Just What Does an Executor Do?
In addition to deciding who gets what when you die, you have key roles to fill that deserve thoughtful deliberation as part of the estate-planning process, experts say.
A Trust can Protect Inheritance from Relatives
You may love your son-in-law or daughter-in-law now, but that could change down the road. So, if you don’t want your money going to your child’s future ex, here’s what you should do.
Your Will and Estate Planning Checklist
Most people should have a will, but it’s rarely the most significant estate planning document that an individual will hold.
Is it Better to Have a Living Will or a Living Trust?
Whether you need a living will vs. living trust as part of your estate plan depends on your overall financial situation and goals. However, it’s helpful to consider the advantages of including one or both in your planning efforts.
Preparing for an Estate Planning Meeting
While most initial meetings with an estate planning attorney will result in some questions you likely have never considered, there are many ways in which you can prepare for a thoughtful and productive estate planning conference that will result in a better understanding of your goals and more efficient use of time with your attorney.
How to Manage a Will and Trust
By definition, a Will accounts for a person’s wishes of how their assets and estate should be distributed and handled once they die. It spells out who should get what and who should do what, after the benefactor’s demise.
Does a Trust Have to Be Funded to Be Valid?
If you don’t also fund it, unexpected things can happen and some of those things may not reflect the intent to the grantor.
What Legal Documents Should You Have?
A majority of retirees—53%—have a last will and testament. However, most lack six other crucial legal documents.
Consider Funding a Trust with Life Insurance
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.
The Biggest Estate Planning Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
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.