Many people opt for a living trust over more traditional means of estate planning because of benefits such as: A smoother, shorter transition after death Lower costs of administration after death Flexibility during the grantor’s lifetime Greater ability to control…

When a spouse passes away, thinking about “the estate” might be the last thing on your mind. And while it’s necessary to give yourself ample time to process the loss of your partner, it’s also imperative you talk with your…

Many people think of life insurance as nothing more than a means to ensure that dependents are provided for. While that is obviously a key benefit of a good life insurance policy, there are other reasons to consider life insurance…

The purpose of an estate plan is to protect your family, loved ones, business partners and others who will be impacted by your death. Most people think in terms of the big issues, such as ensuring that the family business…

You have worked hard for years, have family members and friends you care about, and have approached a time in your life when “estate planning” sounds like something you should do, but you are not exactly sure why. You may…

If you’re like most Americans who have worked hard, saved for retirement, and taken the time and trouble to structure your assets so that they will provide for you and for your heirs, you have probably never considered the possibility…

The loss of a loved one puts stress on individuals and on the family dynamic. Adding money and property to the mix can be a recipe for conflict—conflict that sometimes ends in estate litigation. When your heirs fight amongst themselves,…

Very few of us manage to plan our finances neatly enough that we die with zero debt. Even if you live largely debt-free, timing alone will typically result in a least a few outstanding medical bills or an outstanding credit…

You May Not Think You Need a Will, but You Really Do. Most Americans do not have a simple will as part of their estate plan. You might believe that a will is only for the rich and famous, and…

Mortgage debt can complicate bequests of real property in ways most people haven’t considered. These complications are manageable if you have planned appropriately, but may lead to unpleasant surprises if left to chance. If you own property with outstanding mortgage…