Eventually, you'll need an estate plan. It's a must. You know it. Your heirs know it. At some point, your assets -- no matter how much you have -- need to get passed on to the next generation. It's something everyone has to do. However, many people act like they don't...
Estate Planning
Estate disputes aren’t always about your money
You're not oblivious to the fact that children fight over their parents' estates. It happened to you. While you still feel close to two of your siblings, there's one you haven't talked to since your own parents passed away. A legal battle over financial assets left...
4 questions that help with estate planning
Wondering how to get started on your estate planning? One excellent way to get it moving forward is simply to ask yourself a series of questions about your goals for the process. This gets you thinking about where you're heading, and you can then work backward to...
Have you created a living will as part of your estate plan?
If you have already taken the step of creating a last will that outlines who should receive which assets that you own, you may think that your estate planning is done. In reality, estate planning is much more complex than listing heirs and beneficiaries. A good estate...
There are many reasons to update your estate plan documents
When people make an estate plan or last will, they often think of it as a one-time project. In reality, creating a comprehensive estate plan requires ongoing attention. As a general rule, it is usually smart to revisit your last will and all other documents from your...
Creating a trust can protect your legacy— and your loved ones
No one likes to think about their own death. It's morbid and can be quite depressing. However, if you have substantial assets, minor children or other people who depend on you, failing to create a thorough estate plan could leave them at risk if something happens to...
Adding a special clause can help keep your estate out of probate
One of the reasons that people take the time to create an estate plan is because they don't want to have their assets stuck in probate limbo for months. For many people, estate planning is a means of creating a legacy. Whether that's leaving certain cherished items to...
Using planning techniques to avoid probate
When planning your estate, you will realize that the smoothest way for your assets to reach your loved ones is by avoiding the probate process. However, this can be easier said than done, and it is important to look into all of the methods at your disposal that can...
You can prevent all of these estate planning mistakes
Regardless of your situation and goals, creating an estate plan can be a complicated process that brings a lot of stress to your life. Fortunately, when you take the right approach, this doesn't have to be the case. There are many ways to make it through the estate...
Avoiding probate: There are things you can do
When creating an estate plan, you need to think about more than what will happen to your assets upon your death. You also need to focus on how these assets will transfer from you to the appropriate person or people. It's important to learn more about the probate...


