Estate Planning

Creating an estate plan requires careful thought. One thing that you have to decide is who is going to get which assets after you pass away. Once you decide that, you’re going to have to figure out the best way to relay your wishes in a legally enforceable manner. One...

As a parent, choosing a guardian for your child is one of the most important and personal decisions you can make. It shows your commitment to planning ahead and protecting your child, even in uncertain circumstances. But naming a guardian is just one part of the plan....

With a power of attorney, you have the opportunity to choose an agent to act on your behalf. For instance, if you become incapacitated in the future and you can’t make your own medical decisions, a medical power of attorney authorizes someone else to make them for...

Estate administration comes with several key responsibilities. Personal representatives or executors typically need to use estate resources to pay debts. They have to communicate with others, including beneficiaries or heirs. They may even be responsible for...

Some people establish estate plans when they get married. Becoming a parent is another common trigger for adults to draft wills and other estate planning documents. Sometimes, even those with dependent family members or valuable resources could procrastinate about...

A will is commonly associated with the distribution of money and property. While leaving assets to loved ones is its primary function, a will can serve other important purposes. From naming guardians to outlining personal wishes, it offers a way to make thoughtful...

While drafting an estate plan, one important thing to keep in mind is the necessity to make medical decisions. Many people begin by splitting up their assets, choosing beneficiaries and making other decisions about how their estate should be administered. But your...

There are many different types of trusts you can use, depending on what you’re trying to accomplish. A special needs trust, for instance, can help a beneficiary qualify for benefits while still receiving an inheritance. A spendthrift trust can protect assets if you...

Thinking about the future is something that most adults often do. Those thoughts are often limited to what they want to do while they’re still living; however, thinking beyond that is a good idea.  All adults should think about getting their estate plan together so...

A POD account, or a payable-on-death account, is in many ways like any other financial account. You set it up at your bank, and it can hold funds that you can transfer in and out as you like. The difference is that this account has a beneficiary designation. You are...