A Good Estate Plan Equals Peace of Mind and Peace in the Family
More than likely, most people may not want to envision a time spent in court, arguing with siblings and other family members, or fighting with financial institutions and health providers to uphold end-of-life wishes and the management of personal assets.
Who Should I Name as Trustee?
Having a trust is just one important piece of the puzzle, when planning for your financial legacy. Another piece: your trustee.
What Does Portability Mean, and How Do I Use It?
Portability first emerged as an estate planning strategy in 2011 and 2012 from the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010. It was made permanent by the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012.
What Does an Estate Planning Attorney Really Do?
Estate planning is a systematic process, which involves getting your personal and financial goods for the time, if you pass away or become mentally ill. It is also known as last will, and almost everyone does this planning for their family.
Estate Plans Can Include Illiquid Assets
No good estate plan can afford to ignore the other assets, the ones called ‘illiquid.’ That category includes anything that can’t readily be converted to cash, in a regulated market with readily determined prices.
Are You Forgetting this Estate Planning Document?
Estate planning is a complex world for most Americans. For many, the process can seem overwhelming and expensive. For others, it is uncomfortable to confront one’s mortality and requires tough decision making. However, regardless of one’s feeling on estate planning, there is one estate planning document that all Americans should have: A Health Care Directive.
How to Begin Talking About Estate Plans
Few families, of course, enjoy talking about money. Introduce the idea of estate plans and inheritance—who gets what and why—and conversations often never get off the ground.
How Do I Plan for My Incapacity?
What would happen if you were mentally or physically unable to take care of yourself or your day-to-day affairs? You might not be able to make sound decisions about your health or finances. You could lose the ability to pay bills, write checks, make deposits, sell assets, or otherwise conduct your affairs. Unless you’re prepared, incapacity could devastate your family, exhaust your savings and undermine your financial, tax and estate planning strategies.
Estate Planning Mistakes to Avoid
Preparing an estate plan, is like getting a physical. We know responsible adults have it done but choosing to do it yourself is just not appealing. We may decide with the information available on the internet, we simply can self-diagnose any problems that arise.
What You Need to Understand about Step-Up in Basis At Death
There are several tax concepts that are important for real estate investors, but for many people, step-up in basis is one of the least understood.