Many people believe that if they are single, they don’t need a will or other estate planning documents. But estate planning for single people is just as important as it is for couples and families. Estate planning allows you to ensure…
A trust is a legal arrangement through which one person (or an institution, such as a bank or law firm), called a “trustee,” holds legal title to property for another person, called a “beneficiary.” Trusts fall into two basic categories:…
Allocating your personal possessions can be one of the most difficult tasks when creating an estate plan. To avoid family feuds after you are gone, it is important to have a plan and make your wishes clear. When passing on…
While the internet makes our lives more convenient, it also adds new complications. For example, what happens to all our online data and assets if we become disabled or die? Whether or not we spend half our lives responding to…
Once you’ve created an estate plan, it is important to keep it up to date. You will need to revisit your plan after certain key life events, including marriage, the birth of children, divorce or the death of a spouse,…
Estate administration is the process of managing and distributing a person’s property (the “estate”) after death. If the person had a will, the will goes through probate, which is the process by which the deceased person’s property is passed to…
Turning 18 and leaving home is an exciting time for young adults, filled with a host of new freedoms such as voting and independent living. However, it is also a time in life where many young adults still rely on…
There are many unknowns when planning an estate, but you can’t let the uncertainties get in the way of creating any kind of plan. Having an imperfect plan is usually better than having no plan at all. When planning an…
Many types of property and investments pass outside of probate and allow you to designate who will receive them after your death. It is important that these designations are kept up to date and are consistent with the rest of…
Millions of people are affected by dementia, and unfortunately many of them do not have all their estate planning affairs in order before the symptoms start. If you or a loved one has dementia, it may not be too late…