Naming an executor is an essential part of estate planning. The party you choose ensures your estate plan protects your loved ones as you intended. Therefore, you should be extra careful when choosing one. The following are four factors to consider when choosing an...
Estate Planning
How to talk to your family about your estate plan
While you don't need to explain every detail of your estate plan to your family, it helps to have an open discussion, especially if you have a complex estate or the assets are not divided equally. Talking to them can eliminate the chances of inheritance disputes....
2 ways a special needs trust can protect a vulnerable family member
Some people come into this world with congenital conditions that will make them forever dependent on the care of others. There are many other people who acquire disabling medical conditions because of an injury or an illness that occurs later in life. In either event,...
3 documents you need to prepare during estate planning
Putting together an estate plan can feel like a hugely overwhelming process, especially if you’ve never thought about it before and don’t know where to start. While estate planning can be very paperwork-heavy, it doesn’t need to be. When you’re just getting started...
When should an estate plan be updated?
Planning an estate involves preparing for one's passing and ensuring that their possessions are transferred in accordance with the testator's wishes. Estate planning is a continuous process and that may mean it needs modifications. A person may need to change their...
Pet owners: Consider these estate planning points
Estate planning is a process that involves making arrangements for how an individual's assets will be distributed and responsibilities fulfilled after their death. While much of estate planning tends to focus on financial assets, real estate and care for dependent...
2 ways a trust can protect an inheritance
You do not have to leave an inheritance directly to an heir. You don’t have to cut them a check for $100,000, for example. Nor do you have to leave their inheritance vulnerable to creditors and disputes by articulating your wishes via your will. You can, instead, put...
Who should you pick as a guardian for your child?
Estate planning is a crucial step that all adults should consider doing. And some life changes can motivate you to do so, such as having a child. An estate plan is not all about distributing inheritances – it consists of several documents that protect your wishes,...
What should be in your estate plan?
An estate plan is a legal document or set of documents that outline an individual's wishes regarding the distribution of their assets and the management of their affairs in the event of incapacity or death. While there is no one-size-fits-all estate plan, specific...
Protect your assets with trusts
There are many reasons why you might want to set up a trust. Perhaps you want to make sure your children inherit your assets, or you want to protect your assets from creditors. Whatever the reason, trusts can be a valuable tool for estate planning. What are the...