Parents need to instill family values at an early age to ensure the adoption of these family values. Undoubtedly the best time to teach and empower your children as eventual inheritors of your family legacy is during childhood, then continuing…
Just like you should visit your doctor for a yearly check-up, you should review your estate planning documents annually to make sure they are up-to-date. Children grow up, marriages dissolve, property gets sold, residences change. That’s why we recommend that…
Who will get an inheritance if the beneficiary is deceased? You may be wondering whether if you leave property to your brother Jim, but he dies before you, would his kids inherit the property in his place? The answer is,…
Most young adults don’t consider estate planning a priority. Young adults in their twenties and thirties often think they don't own enough to constitute an estate. However, an estate is the total of all you own – money, investments, real…
You may have heard that it's best to avoid probate court if you can. But just because people may have heard that term, doesn’t mean they know exactly what probate means, why it can be a problem, or how to…
If you have a child with special needs, you will require expert advice in estate planning. Looking to the future as to how your child will be able to function in the world as they age is particularly tricky to…
Bankers Life Center for Secure Retirement commissioned The Blackstone Group to perform a study of how prepared baby boomers really are for retirement, and the results are troubling. According to the survey above, the bleak financial reality of this demographic…
Imagine a pair of aging parents that have been farmers and own their farm. Now, though, they’re getting on in years and they’re considering moving into a smaller place. One of the daughters and her husband help run the farm,…
You would like to help your friend Rose, who has asked you to be her trustee, but you are worried about all the duties that come with being a trustee. You would be managing Rose’s property for her and for…
At some point in your life, you may be faced with a request to become a power of attorney for a friend or family member. Your person may be planning for when they might become unable to take care of…