Estate Planning Basics for Newlyweds: How to Prepare for the Unexpected
Getting married is a special time in your life; you may have a beautiful wedding, a fun reception (with a delicious cake and special gifts), and a romantic honeymoon. It ...
Four Steps to Stop Mail Addressed to a Deceased Person
Once you have been appointed the executor or personal representative of a deceased loved one’s probate estate, or when you step in as the successor trustee of the loved one’s ...
HIPAA: An Overview for Young Adults
The Federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) was enacted to provide guidelines to the healthcare industry for protecting patient information and preserving privacy. This is usually ...
First Step in Adulthood: Choosing the Right Decision-Makers
Being an adult comes with freedom and responsibility. You can now make important decisions on your own without consulting your parents or guardians. While this may feel incredibly liberating, it ...
Be Careful Relying on Life Insurance to Provide for Loved Ones
In an estate plan, life insurance can be used as a source of immediate liquidity for beneficiaries by offering a tax-free, lump-sum payment upon the insured’s death. About half of ...
Enriching Life with a Third-Party Special Needs Trust
A special needs trust (SNT) allows an individual to provide for a beneficiary without jeopardizing the beneficiary’s eligibility for needs-based government benefits. SNT funds can generally be used to pay ...
Have You Checked Your Beneficiary Designations Lately?
You regularly check the balances of your retirement, bank, and investment accounts. But when was the last time you checked the beneficiary designations on these accounts (and really, all the ...
How Do I Create an Estate Plan with an Only Child?
Raising an only child can sometimes present unique challenges for both the child and the parents, especially in the area of estate planning. In some ways, having one child simplifies ...
How to Pick a Trustee, Personal Representative, and Agent under a Power of Attorney
While the term fiduciary is a legal term with a rich history, it generally means someone who is legally obligated to act in another person’s best interest. Trustees, personal representatives, ...
Should Your Child’s Guardian and Trustee Be the Same Person?
If you have overheard any estate planning discussions, you have likely heard the words “guardian” or “trustee.” In estate planning, deciding who will ultimately be tasked with caring for your ...