Estate Planning

While creating an estate plan is a smart move for just about anyone, certain situations in life arise that make drafting one even more critical. Having your first child is one such situation. While you may find yourself distracted for a while with adjusting to life...

Thinking about how you want your property and other assets distributed after your death can be difficult enough. However, during the estate planning process, your attorney may ask you if you've given any consideration to your burial plan preferences.This is as good of...

When people talk about incentive trusts, they often point out the benefits: You get to help your heirs become the best versions of themselves, and then they get their inheritance when they follow the path you set for them. Incentives could include refraining from...

Maybe you and your partner are living the Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell or Oprah Winfrey and Stedman Graham life: You're longtime loves who simply decided never to marry.That lifestyle works for couples everywhere, and even if they don't need a marriage certificate,...

We so often hear of celebrities who haven't created an estate plan and how their family members wind up in court, fighting over the assets, when they die.Actor Luke Perry, who died March 4 in Southern California following a massive stroke, apparently had his estate...

Do you wish you could predict the future? You can, using a successful estate plan. The future is coming, whether you provide for your loved ones or not. Formalize your wishes in an estate plan. Peace of mind comes when you are in control.Well-meaning people die every...

Longtime soap opera actor Kristoff St. John passed away last month, reportedly without a will, and now his oldest daughter has asked a California court to allow her to take over his affairs.The young woman, who was born in 1992, filed court documents in Los Angeles...

Do not assume that the estate plan you made five years ago -- or even the one you just made today -- is going to stand the test of time. Life changes. Things happen. The future is not always what you expected it to be. When facing significant changes, you absolutely...

Buying a home is a significant milestone. This is likely one of the biggest purchases you will ever make in your lifetime. Not only is it a financially valuable asset, but it is also emotionally important. The fact that you now own a significant asset means you need...

There are many reasons to set up an estate plan. It can help you reduce the tax burden of the estate, it can give you more say in how your money is used and it can help you leave specific assets to specific people -- just to name a few benefits.However, two of the...