Your Spouse Just Died … Now What?
In many relationships, it’s common for one spouse to play money manager and the other to take a more passive role. This, however, can lead to major complications, when the financially dominant partner dies first.
What Is a Pour-Over Will?
When you create a living trust, you also sign a pour-over will. One of the main benefits of a trust is avoiding a court proceeding on death called probate, which is when wills are used.
When are You Done with Estate Planning? Hint: Review Your Plan Regularly!
As we approach our 70s, we feel like we have everything covered. We don’t have long-term care insurance, but with the income we have off the farm and with our savings, we feel pretty comfortable. Is everything we have enough?
Ignoring Beneficiary Designations Is a Risky Business
We are programmed to contribute the “max” to our retirement accounts and we disregard, or do not understand, the pitfalls of an improperly filled-out beneficiary forms.
Estate Planning Is for Everyone, at Every Age
There are milestones in every life. For many, graduations, marriage, children, opening a business and retiring are among these milestones.
Why Advance Health Care Directives are Needed?
A woman was clear about her wishes before she had a stroke — in the case of a serious medical event, she did not want a feeding tube. She had even expressed her wishes in an advance directive, years before her stroke.
DIY Estate Planning Often Leads to Bad Outcomes
Thanks to the Internet, everyone has the ability to draft wills, trusts and a variety of other legal documents. Many documents can be produced for less than $100, requiring only a few mouse clicks and filled-in blanks.