As part of the probate process, deceased people's wills are authenticated, their assets are reviewed, their debts are paid, and their taxes are paid. What remains is distributed to their inheritors. After an asset-holder dies, the court will appoint a…
The topic of estate planning can be difficult for most of us to discuss with our parents. Even broaching the subject can seem daunting. Despite the challenging nature of this subject, it is one of the most important conversations we…
Entrepreneurs have several important characteristics in common such as motivation, creativity, persuasiveness, risk tolerance, versatility, vision, innovation, communication and collaboration, flexibility, and decisiveness. These individuals create new businesses bearing most of the risks and reaping most of the rewards if…
Probate can be avoided if you have the right strategy in place, saving you money in taxes, avoiding public proceedings, and the requirement for court approval. It can save you time, frustration, and in many cases, significant attorney and court…
Inheritance distributions in blended families can be inequitable resulting in hurt feelings and possibly lengthy court battles. While you cannot legislate from the grave, you can carefully prepare your estate plan, distinctly accounting for biological and stepchildren to minimize the…
A trust is a great mechanism for handling estate business and it can be beneficial to anyone with any number of assets. You want to keep your affairs private and stay out of probate court? Maybe you have stepchildren? You…
A letter of intent (LOI), also referred to as a letter of instruction, communicates important information to your loved ones that may not be covered in the general estate planning documents. Your LOI is a valuable piece in your estate…
Kevin was watching his wife Winnie in her nursing home room with tears in his eyes. The medical staff just finished inserting a feeding tube into Winnie – an act Kevin knew she didn’t want. Unfortunately, Winnie couldn’t express her…
In a comprehensive estate plan, it is crucial to include a power of attorney assigning who will be your trusted agent to manage your affairs. These legal documents can grant broad authority to one or more power of attorney agents…
The need for estate planning becomes more and more critical as we get older. Many people avoid estate planning because they do not want to think about the end of life, failing health, or disability. Others believe that an estate…