When Exactly Do I Need to Update My Will?
It is also important to realize that it isn’t merely “why” you are updating your will, but “when” you are updating that can make all the difference. Acting too late (or too early) may mean your changes are no longer appropriate or even immediately invalidated.
What Happens When a Will Is Challenged?
Sometimes beneficiaries end up not receiving their assets. Beneficiaries often lose out because the estate planning wasn’t done properly, but sometimes another family member contests the decedent’s will.
Why Should I Think about My Death?
Talking about death makes most of us uncomfortable, so we don’t plan for it. That’s a big mistake, because if you don’t have an end-of-life plan, your state’s laws decide who gets everything you own. A doctor you’ve never met could decide how you spend your last moments, and your loved ones could be saddled with untangling an expensive legal mess after you die.
What Does Pandemic Estate Planning Look Like?
The coronavirus pandemic has certainly caused havoc and concern for many people, particularly in regard to their health and their finances — and these two areas intersect in estate planning. So, if you haven’t drawn up your estate plans yet, or you think they may need to be revised, now may be a good time to act.”
How Do I Handle Inheritance?
The period leading up to and shortly after losing a close relative is often one of the most emotionally demanding times that we, as humans, experience.
How Can I Avoid Family Fighting in My Estate Planning?
One problem that frequently stems from the inheritance process is fractured relationships between siblings. Unfortunately, the common denominator in many of these situations is the parents’ estate plan.
What are the Estate Planning Basics?
It’s never too early to start working on how your things will be handled, once you pass away.
When Can an Executor Start Paying the Heirs of an Estate?
I have settled my mother’s estate and sent the final accounting paperwork to my three siblings. Two have signed off on the bond paperwork but my one brother is nitpicking the statements, asking for invoices for the lawyer, the CPA, etc. Can I send the other two their share of the inheritance or do I need to wait until everyone signs off?
Are People Avoiding Estate Planning in the Pandemic?
We found that Covid-19 had a significant impact on Americans’ sense of personal readiness, with 65% saying that coronavirus made them realize the importance of sharing important information with family. Around the same amount of people (64%) noted that planning for the future was more important than ever and half (50%) said the pandemic made them realize how unprepared they were for a serious emergency.
How Current is Your Estate Plan?
Most people do not update their estate plans often enough. The most common (and most absurd) excuse for not updating planning, that most advisers hear is: Nothing has changed.