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 ...
What to Do with Grandma’s Ring: Dividing Personal Property in an Estate
If you have a beloved late grandmother, many images and memories may come to mind when you reminisce about her. You might picture her at her home or at the ...
Will My Revocable Living Trust Avoid Probate? It Depends.
If you have established a revocable living trust (which we will refer to simply as a trust), congratulations! You are on the right track in creating a comprehensive estate plan. ...
What Is a General Power of Appointment?
Your family, the economy, the law, and society can change rapidly and unexpectedly, affecting your best-laid estate plans in unpredictable ways. To achieve your estate planning goals, you need a ...
3 Ways to Manage the Cost of Your Estate Plan
You may think creating a simple estate plan should be easy and something you can do independently. Unfortunately, this is not the case. Estate planning laws vary greatly from state ...
Can Someone Else Pay for My Estate Plan?
Estate planning is not just for the wealthy. Every adult should have an estate plan, yet surprisingly, most Americans do not. The perceived cost of creating one is among the ...
Things to Consider When a Parent Is Out of Town
Your estate plan may include powers of attorney that allow a trusted person to act on your behalf and advocate for you with regard to medical and financial matters when ...