Do I Need an Estate Plan If I’m Not Married?
If you don’t have a spouse or children, you might think you don’t need to do much estate planning. However, if you have any assets, any familial connections, any interest in supporting charitable groups – not to mention a desire to control your own future – you do need to establish an estate plan.
How to Keep the Vacation Home in the Family
Vacation property can become a family legacy. Keeping your cabin, fishing lodge, hunting property or other special assets separate for future generations is often a special goal for a family.
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 changed, and anyone who has anything to leave behind needs to plan their estate. “Estate planning” essentially becomes your family’s guidebook, once you are no longer in the picture. Sounds important? Definitely, and here’s why.
If My Estate Is the Beneficiary of My IRA, How Is It Taxed?
When an estate is named beneficiary of an IRA, what is the method of distributing it to one individual in the most tax-effective way?
If I Buy a House, Should I have an Estate Plan?
Buying a home is one of the most common triggers for creating an estate plan.
What Happens If an Unmarried Partner Dies?
A proper estate plan will help those left navigate the disposition of assets and the probate court system, especially for unmarried couples and some married same-sex couples.
Should a Trust Be a Component of My Estate Planning?
Do I need a trust in case something happens to me?
Can I Be Sure My Estate Plan Works?
Your estate plan is much more likely to be successful, when you recognize and avoid the most common mistakes and take some key actions that often are overlooked.
How Do I Avoid Estate Planning Mistake with 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.
What Exactly Is a Trust?
A trust is a legal vehicle that allows a third party, a trustee, to hold and direct assets in a trust fund on behalf of a beneficiary. A trust greatly expands your options when it comes to managing your assets, whether you’re trying to shield your wealth from taxes or pass it on to your children.