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...
Estate Planning
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...
Prevent your family from fighting after your death
When you pass away, there is always a risk that your family could get into arguments or disagree about how to handle your estate. It’s important to take action and to look into ways to prevent arguments or will contests, for example, so your passing can be as peaceful...
When might the legal validity of a will be challenged?
A will is an essential part of any estate plan. With this document, you can detail how your assets are distributed upon your death. You can also nominate legal guardians for your children and much more. As with any legal instrument, a will must hold under legal...
Why do people put off writing their will?
Many people put off writing their will because it’s often believed to only be useful later in life. This misconception has caused trouble for many heirs when their loved ones suddenly face health complications at a young age or are in fatal accidents. But, more...
Can you put digital collections in your will?
More and more often, people have digital forms of media. They may have invested a significant amount of money in a collection, and it may also have sentimental value to the heirs from times spent enjoying this media together. For instance, your grandparents may have...
What is the cy pres doctrine in estate planning?
If a loved one left a will they wrote themselves or maybe with the help of an online “do-it-yourself” will-maker, there could be some issues – even if they had it witnessed and notarized so that it’s a valid document. It’s not uncommon for people to include...
Update your estate plan after these life events
An estate plan is a great thing to have in place, but you do need to remember to make updates occasionally. Life changes and you don't want to have an estate plan that is 20 years out of date. It is possible to simply make these updates on a set schedule. Maybe you...
What debts will your estate need to repay after you die?
It can be fun, if a little sad, to think about leaving your most treasured possessions to your family members when you die. You may know that your grandchild will love an item they long coveted at your home or that your daughter will move into your home happily. Many...
Losing a loved one can be a reminder to update your estate plan
Losing a loved one is never easy. Even if you knew that the end was near because they had fought a long-lasting terminal illness, grief is an overwhelming experience. If their death was sudden, perhaps because of the car crash or a heart attack, you may have left...