Category Archives: Estate Planning
Include Funeral Plans in Your Estate Planning Efforts
As you go through your estate planning processes, you should make early plans for your funeral as well to help ease the burden you place on your estate executor. It might not be the most pleasant process, but planning for your funeral can make matters significantly less stressful for your loved ones after your death. […]
Factors to Consider When Estate Planning for a Loved One with Special Needs
Estate planning for a loved one with special needs can be a complex and daunting process. You need to make sure the plan is flexible enough to account for any unknown circumstances that could arise, but also that it is customized to fit the needs of your loved one. The following are a few tips […]
What Happens if a Will’s Beneficiary has Died?
People who create wills typically designate beneficiaries whom they want to receive certain assets. But if the beneficiary has already died, there could be some complications when it comes to the distribution of assets. First, the executor of the will should check the document for alternate beneficiaries, often referred to as contingent beneficiaries. If the […]
Questions to Ask Yourself When Choosing a Guardian for Your Children
Deciding on a guardian for your children in the event of your death can be a difficult, emotional process. It’s very hard for us as parents to think of our children being left without us as they grow up. However, it’s extremely important to plan for worst-case scenarios so that if those situations arise, your […]
The Effects of Divorce on a Will
Certain life events could have a major impact on provisions of your will and other estate planning documents. After you approach a divorce, you should also go through your will as soon as possible to make changes as needed. You should especially be on the lookout for the following: Property left to your former spouse. […]
What are Beneficiaries and Devises in Estate Planning?
A bequest is an estate planning term referring to personal property distributed through a will. It does not include gifts of real property (such as a home or a farm or empty lot). Nevertheless, sometime people use the work “bequest” to refer to all gifts made by wills. The better word for that is “devise.” […]
The Benefits of Having a Video Will Signing
There is no such thing as a “video will.” Under estate planning laws, a will must be on paper and signed in the presence of two witnesses to be valid. However, you might choose to have a video recording of your will signing. A recorded will signing has several benefits, including: Proof you were of […]
Tips to Make Estate Administration Easier on Your Loved Ones After You Pass
As you plan for the future, it’s important to consider what might happen to your loved ones and your assets after you pass away. You can help alleviate a little stress for your friends and family members by staying organized in your estate planning efforts. The following are a few tips to help make estate […]
Tips for Managing Your Financial Assets as a Couple in Late Middle Age and Beyond
Many older couples have become used to an arrangement in which one of the two spouses has been primarily responsible for all of the couple’s major decisions in terms of financial planning, while the other, for example, might handle everyday household expenses. For instance, if the wife has been primarily responsible for finances for years, […]
New Law Could Provide Easier Access to Online Accounts after Death of Client
A new bill was introduced in 11 different states this month that could help give estate executors easier access to their deceased loved one’s online accounts. The legislation is named the revised Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act. It contains some guidelines and general procedures for gaining access to an individual’s online accounts after […]