What are the Key Documents in Estate Planning?
It can be easy to overlook, but an estate plan is essential for nearly everyone, whether you have a lot of money or just a little. An estate plan tells your heirs and the courts how to divide up your assets. However, it also helps protect your loved ones from unnecessary hassle and expense – as well as potentially months, even years, tied up in the court system settling your estate.
What are the Worst Things to Leave in My Estate?
If you’re planning an inheritance, be careful about leaving these assets to a loved one. They may create more trouble than they’re worth.
Where Do You Score on Estate Planning Checklist?
Every so often, it’s smart to methodically go through your estate planning documents and see if any tweaks are needed. Here’s a checklist to guide you through that mission.
If I Have a Will, Do I Have an Estate Plan?
While a will is often part of an estate plan, an estate plan covers much more ground.
What’s Happening to the Estate Tax?
Under current rules, the federal estate tax won’t ever affect you, unless you’re quite wealthy. However, that could change rapidly, even if you are far from rich.
How Do You Split Estate in a Blended Family?
A second marriage can be a balm for the heartache of losing a spouse, be it through death or divorce. Nevertheless, if there are children or other heirs involved, you should consider carefully what will happen with your money and possessions when you pass on.
Why Is Estate Planning So Important?
The word “estate” has always been connected to “ultra-rich” families, those with a lot to leave behind after their death. However, definitions have now changed, and anyone who has anything to leave behind needs to plan their estate.
How Do I Sell a Home in an Irrevocable Trust?
I’m a trustee selling a home in irrevocable trust for a parent who died. There are two beneficiaries who will get the sale proceeds with a stepped-up basis. I’m filing Form 1041 but do I still have to file a Form 1040 to report anything for the beneficiaries?
What Should Same-Sex Couples Know about Estate Planning?
Some people might assume that estate planning is only for the wealthy. However, the reality is that anyone can, and should, engage in estate planning, regardless of wealth. Although creating an estate plan for same-sex couples isn’t totally different than for heterosexual couples, there are some considerations that are unique to same-sex couples.
How Do I Stop Heirs from Foolishly Wasting Inheritance?
One of the biggest concerns a trust creator might have is that the beneficiary would squander their inheritance or that the beneficiary’s creditor would attach the inheritance to cover the beneficiary’s debt.