Estate Planning

A will is one of the most important legal documents you can ever sign. And when you set aside time to draft one, you hope and trust that it will be implemented to the letter when you die.  However, it is not uncommon a will to become the subject of a costly legal...

Increasingly, people are using living trusts rather than their wills to pass on the bulk of their assets to their family and other beneficiaries. The primary advantage of a living trust for most people is that assets in it typically don’t have to go through probate....

A living trust is a legal document that allows individuals to transfer their assets into a trust during their lifetime, with the aim of managing and distributing those assets upon their death. While not everyone needs a living trust, there are certain situations where...

Creating a will is the responsible thing to do. It helps ensure your family knows your wishes and how to handle your estate when you pass away.  However, you may not realize that a will is not a set-it-and-forget-it document. It requires updates and changes throughout...

A will is basically the cornerstone of any estate plan. This legal document stipulates how you wish to distribute your assets to your beneficiaries when you die. If you get every aspect of your will right, you will have peace of mind knowing that your hard-earned...

Creating an estate plan is the smart and responsible thing to do as an adult. It will help you better understand your financial situation and can be used to reduce tax obligations and guide investment decisions.  All this is just a bonus to the true purpose of your...

Some individuals don’t like irrevocable trusts because grantors can’t change or revoke them. But an irrevocable trust comes with many benefits like protection from creditors, government benefits and savings on estate taxes. If you’re thinking about creating an...

Estate planning is one of the biggest legal decisions people make.  However, these legal documents can be confusing for first-time trustees. So it’s only fair that many trustees are riddled with questions. Here's what you should know: 1. Who can you name as a...

Planning your estate could be one of the best decisions you can make – for you and your family. It’s not a hidden fact, however, that estate plans include a lot of features. Here’s what you should think about including in your own plans when you're looking at the...

No one wants to think about a time when they won’t be able to make decisions on their own. However, as you get older, the potential of this happening increases.  It’s best to make plans now for how you want things handled if this happens. The best way to do this is by...