Many individuals are aware that a will is one way to plan for the distribution of their assets after death. However, a comprehensive estate plan also considers other objectives such as planning for long-term care and asset protection. For this reason, it is essential to consider utilizing an irrevocable trust. […]
When a person dies with a will in place, an executor is named as the responsible individual for winding down the decedent’s affairs. In situations in which a will has not been prepared, the probate court will appoint an administrator. Whether you have been named as an executor or administrator, […]
The most basic estate planning tool is a will which establishes how an individual’s property will be distributed and names beneficiaries to receive those assets. Unfortunately, there are circumstances when disputes arise among surviving family members that can lead to a will contest. This is a court proceeding in which […]
Inheritance laws involve legal rights to property after a death and such laws differ from state-to-state. Heirs usually consist of close family members and exclude estranged relatives. Depending on the wording of a will, an individual can be intentionally, or even unintentionally, disinherited. In most cases, spouses may not be […]
Individuals who are beginning the estate planning process may assume it’s best to have their adult child(ren) join them in the initial meeting with an estate planning attorney, but this may cause more harm than good. This issue comes up often in the estate planning and elder law field, and […]