When Pablo Picasso died in 1973 at the age of 91, he left behind about 45,000 works of art – so many that it would take the entire Empire State Building to display them all at the same time – and yet he didn’t leave a will.
The probate process refers to court proceedings that you have to go through when a loved one passes on, and they have left an asset in their name.
Estate planning is all about ensuring that your wishes are met after your death. All estate plans should include a will and powers of attorney. However, in many cases, a trust has additional benefits beyond what can be accomplished with the will and powers of attorney.
Estate planning is crucial, setting up a peace of mind for you, as you enter your senior years. Most people don’t create a will because they are afraid to even think about the possibility of death. It feels like too big of a responsibility.
One of the biggest wealth transfers our nation has ever seen is about to take place. Over the next 25 years, as much as $68 trillion of wealth will be passed to succeeding generations.
Unfortunately, due to hidden resentments, siblings still tend to end up in court suing each other and losing great chunks of their inheritance in the process all too frequently.
As a result of illness, old age or incapacity, what may happen when you can no longer handle your own decision-making, handle your own money or make your own health care choices? Who can step in to help and how are they empowered?
Estate planning is the process of transferring the management of your assets, if and when you are unable to manage them yourself due to disability or death. Whether you have $100 or $100 million you should have an estate plan.
It means you are in charge of managing the person’s assets after death, but what does it really mean? An executor has many roles and responsibilities. Executors should first understand it is a significant responsibility and not something to be taken lightly.