Handling matters of the estate often seems complex and difficult. This is true even after you have created your estate plan. After all, even after its creation, you still have to go back and review it to make sure it is up to date. Fortunately, you do not need to...
Probate
How can I avoid common estate planning mistakes?
An estate plan protects you, your assets, and your family. Accordingly, it is important you take a thoughtful approach to the process to ensure the best possible results. Creating a will and trust, and making smart decisions when it comes heirs and executors is...
The value of gifting your estate during your lifetime
Deciding how to distribute your estate depends on who your beneficiaries are and the kind of legacy you wish to leave behind. Exploring all your options can help you choose one that is complementary to your lifestyle and your end of life wishes. One option you can...
Sibling rivalry may resurface after a parent’s death
Don't assume that sibling rivalries always stop when children become adults. The truth is that they can certainly continue. Even if they don't actively continue, the impact that they had on the children can definitely influence their lives as adults, as well.For...
It’s true: Most people still don’t have a will
For years now, experts have been warning that most Americans do not have a will. Even though most of them say that a will is important when asked, they don't actually write one.Has the exposure of this information helped people realize just how important estate...
Reasons you may start an estate dispute and challenge a will
The idea of a will is to set in stone what happens to a person's estate after they pass away. However, that does not mean that the estate plan always stands. There are reasons that you may want to challenge a will, especially if you think that it is unfair, unjust or...
Have you been the victim of inheritance theft?
Many people are the victims of inheritance theft without ever realizing it. It can take many forms. Often, it's not as overt as, for example, a trustee stealing money from a trust that was intended for a beneficiary or a family member pilfering an antique vase that...
A third-party executor may make probate go smoothly
One reason for disputes during the probate process is that one sibling gets selected as the executor for the estate, but then the other siblings feel like their actions during the process are not fair or not in keeping with their parent's wishes. In some cases, they...
Update your beneficiaries when doing estate planning
When doing your estate planning, remember that you have to update that plan periodically. Common times for an update include when you get married, when you get divorced, when you have a child or when someone named in your will passes away.For instance, maybe you named...
When the need for estate planning feels real
Often, the reason that people put off estate planning is simply that they do not feel like they need to do it yet. There's no sense of urgency. They don't want to think about dying, they assume they have years or decades anyway, and so they don't make a will or set up...