Who Will Raise My Children if I Die While They are Still Minors?
April 17, 2017Some people think that estate planning is for millionaires. In fact, if you have any assets at all, or if you have minor children, estate planning is just as important for you. Not only does the process deal with how assets are distributed at your death, but perhaps more importantly who will raise your children… Read more »
Do I Need a Living Trust if My Only Asset is a Life Insurance Policy?
April 13, 2017Do I have to Create a Living Trust? Living trusts are confusing if my only asset is a life insurance policy. What is I name my minor child as the beneficiary, Should I create a living trust still? How do I know if I need a living trust? Estate planning is all about ensuring your… Read more »
Leave My Estate to My Spouse or to My Children – that is the Big Question
April 11, 2017Should I Leave My Estate to my Spouse or My Children? “Who do I leave my estate to” is a question that plagues first-time estate planners. Most people want to benefit their spouse in a blended family or second marriage situation. Yet they still want to provide for their children. Experience teaches that the potential… Read more »
What are the Concerns of a Blended Family in Second Marriages?
April 07, 2017Concerns of A Blended Family – It Isn’t Always the Brady Bunch Concerns of blended family financial planning and conflict in planning is a reality. A blended family is where someone with children from a prior marriage has entered into a second or subsequent marriage. The conflict arises out of the client’s desire to provide… Read more »
Can My Spouse be a Trustee of the Family or Marital Trusts?
April 05, 2017Yes, but naming the surviving spouse, as a Trustee should be done only after reviewing all the facts and counseling with your advisors. In a “first time” marriage where both spouses have great confidence in each other, it is common for the surviving spouse to be designated as a Trustee of the Family and Marital… Read more »
How Else Can I Use a Living Trust to Plan for My Spouse?
April 03, 2017Using a Living Trust to Plan for Your Spouse’s Financial Future Living trusts can be used to plan for a spouse’s well-being in a variety of ways. The decision about separate or joint trusts is not as straightforward as you might think. A revocable living trust is a popular way to pass assets to heirs. Assets titled… Read more »
What Are Some of the Things My Estate Plan Should Include for my Spouse?
March 30, 2017My Estate Plan Should Include for My Spouse What should be included in an estate plan? The goals that we hear most often from clients regarding what an estate plan should include for my spouse: I want my spouse to be able to maintain the lifestyle that we currently enjoy after I’m gone. I want… Read more »
What Are Some of the Things My Estate Plan Should Provide for After My Death?
March 28, 2017After my Death, What Does My Estate Plan Do? Many people believe that having an estate plan simply means drafting a will or a trust. However, there is much more to include in your estate planning to make certain all of your assets are transferred seamlessly to your heirs after your death. There are specific… Read more »
What Happens in a Guardianship or Conservatorship?
March 24, 2017Guardianship or Conservatorship What Do They Do? Guardianships and conservatorships are both court-ordered requests. When a loved one can no longer care for themselves a family member will hire an attorney to discuss options. The attorney helps the family ask the court to appoint a guardian or conservator when their loved one can no longer… Read more »
What is “Living Probate?”
March 22, 2017Explaining living probate: Living Probate is a term used to describe what happens to those who become mentally incapacitated without proper planning in place. Living probate is the legal proceeding required to put a guardianship in place for a person who can no longer manage his own affairs or make decisions about his care. If a… Read more »