In a will, you specify who will inherit your assets and property after your death, and a properly executed will is legally binding. Your will names a personal representative (executor) who will carry out your directives. In addition to asset distribution,…
Estate planning is essential to most older adults. Still, nearly half of Americans age 55 and older have no will, and fewer still have powers of attorney, a living will, or health care directives. You can use these documents to…
Having the right professional team to create your estate plan can provide you with the best advice and legal documentation to protect your legacy for future generations. Along with an estate planning attorney, who specializes in elder law, you may…
Young adults, including 30-year-olds well into their professional careers, all too often think they are too young to concern themselves with estate planning. People in their twenties and thirties typically believe they don't own enough to constitute an estate. However,…
1.My family and I don’t own much. Can’t we put off planning until we can afford it? You shouldn’t. It is crucial to give legal authority to a person of your choice, to care for your children if anything should…
The legal process for authenticating a deceased person's will, reviewing their assets, paying their outstanding debts and taxes, and distributing what remains to their inheritors is called Probate. After an asset-holder dies, the court will appoint a valid will's executor…
According to a caring.com survey, the number of Americans that have written their wills had only increased 2.5 percent in one year. Overall, the percentage of those with a will continues to decline, 33 percent in 2021 versus 42 percent…
We hear this question all the time: “Can’t I just grab a will off the internet, do a transfer-on-death deed for my land, put my kids on my bank account, and be done with my estate plan?” It’s just…
When you create your Last Will and Testament, you create a set of legal instructions communicating your wishes regarding your dependents and how to dispose of your property when you die. If you have people who you love and care…
When a loved one who has a will dies, their will lays out who shall receive their property, and which person (called the executor) will be in charge of settling the estate. For many reasons, beneficiaries can feel slighted by…