A trust is a handy tool to use as you create your estate plan. It can allow you to do many things with your assets and can even serve to protect your assets. However, you will have to choose the right type of trust. A revocable trust is fluid. You can make changes to...
Many who live in California have some type of estate plan or will in place to cover their assets when they die. This can determine who takes care of any minor children they have, who gets their retirement funds or what happens to the family pets. The opposite side of...
If you have not yet prepared your estate planning documents, resolve not to put this responsibility off any longer. Organizing your thoughts in advance helps smooth the way. Here are five common estate planning mistakes and how you can avoid them. 1. Failing to plan...
The topic of wills and estate planning is not an easy one for many people, and so they may find themselves putting it off as the years go by. However, failing to have such a plan in place may leave their families with miles of legal red tape. According to the American...
When thinking about estate planning, you may begin to wonder about how your mental health affects your estate. All of the time and effort spent on the financial future of your descendants is important. However, there are some obstacles that you must consider if you or...
When you sit down and account for your long years of hard work, you may find yourself dividing more than just money and physical assets. You might be a creator who has enriched the world with music, stories or other helpful designs. These intangible assets have the...
Planning out your later years is what the majority of estate planning focuses on. This includes powers of attorney, medical arrangements and trusts to help protect your assets after your death. However, trusts that help pay for your death are useful as well. Having...
As a young individual with a new or growing family, creating a will is probably low on your list of priorities. However, creating such a document is not only for the elderly or those who have major assets they need to protect. Gallup reports that fewer than half of...
Every estate plan is unique to the person who creates it. Your individual situation dictates the documents that you include in your plan. While there is no requirement that your estate plan must contain a will, the American Bar Association points out a few ways it can...
Your will can provide instructions for how you want the courts to divide your assets. However, invalid wills can inhibit the probate process. When you begin estate planning, make sure you create a legally valid will. Valid wills You must voluntarily write your will...