When assets pass to others through a will, this means that your estate goes through the probate process. Probate can be very time consuming and expensive for your loved ones and since the details vary from one state to another, it’s important to be clear about the exact procedures that may apply if your estate […]

All of your estate planning materials should be drafted by an experienced estate planning attorney and reviewed on a regular basis. Financial planning, estate planning and long-term care planning should always be conducted together to ensure that you’ve taken a long-range view and are able to appoint people to step in quickly to make decisions […]

Far too many people make mistakes related to their beneficiaries on their bank accounts, retirement accounts or life insurance policies. These mistakes usually end up being a problem after the fact for your loved ones when they are not able to receive the assets and benefits that you intended.  There are seven common mistakes that […]

Most doctors are hesitant about unnecessary paperwork in their life but because of this, they avoid taking on critical planning responsibilities as it relates to their estate. Estate planning can even seem morbid or excessively time consuming for someone with an already busy schedule. However, you should definitely start to put together your own estate […]

Some people may not anticipate being a caregiver in the future, but that’s something they need to check in with their parents about. Adult children are not always aware that their parents are planning to use them as a caregiver. A lack of long term care insurance and other assets that could be used to […]

Millennials and estate planning sounds like it might not necessarily go together but far too many millennials jump to this conclusion and their family members are left dealing with the aftermath. No matter how much money is generated over the course of a lifetime, it is not real wealth if it is not effectively transferred […]

If a person already has a trust established with the help of an experienced estate planning attorney, they may be curious about whether a second trust could revoke the terms of the first one. The simple answer to this question is generally no because the creation of a second trust does not immediately revoke a […]

Have you put off an estate plan because you don’t think you need it? Far too many families wind up dealing with the impact of a loved one’s loss without any planning in place.  Many people don’t realize the value of estate planning until it’s too late. Most people set up their initial consultations with […]

The new federal exemption amount has increased as a result of the new tax law, which means that the amount you or your estate can pass on to your heirs free of taxes has increased to approximately $11 million this year from $5.49 million in 2017.  An existing will that already includes a reference to […]

A company that you started with your spouse decades ago may hold sentimental value for you but it also has significant financial value and possible future value if your children or other heirs intend to take it over. There are multiple different things you need to consider in the process of business succession planning for […]