Will
Undue Influence and Estate Planning – What You Need to Know
When we think of “Undue Influence”, we think of contested wills, families divided and older, vulnerable people exploited by self-interested relatives. Declaring undue influence is often used as a reason to contest a will or estate plan, but there are two ways to consider undue influence in estate planning. If you’re the one drafting a…
Read MoreLessons in Estate Planning and Privacy from Harper Lee
Harper Lee, legendary and reclusive author of the literary classic, “To Kill a Mockingbird,” passed away in February 2016 at the age of 89. Though Lee fiercely maintained her privacy, she did publish another novel before the end of her life entitled “Go Set a Watchman.” As a result of her literary success, Lee reportedly…
Read MoreEstate Planning and Second Marriages
Maintaining an updated estate plan is an important aspect of financial care. It is especially important to update following a divorce and/or the start of a second marriage. Blended families and new marriages create an interesting problem for will-makers, as they must find a way to honor the new spouse and children without disregarding children…
Read MoreEstate Planning Advice on Disinheriting a Child
When considering your estate plan, one of the things you will have to think about is who your beneficiaries will be. If you have a significant estate, this decision is made even more complex. How will you divvy up your assets, who will receive an inheritance and are there those who you will deliberately exclude?…
Read More3 Easily Avoidable Estate Planning Mistakes
Estate planning is not a topic that many like to think about. After all, planning for our death can be a morbid way to pass the time. But, instead of thinking about the negative, it is important to remember the positive attributes of estate planning – namely, the security and future well-being of your family…
Read MoreAn Introduction to High-Net Worth Estate Planning
Estate planning is an important concern for anyone who desires their affairs be handled according to their wishes after their death. Planning for high-net worth individuals and families is complex and dependent upon the particular desires of the family. High-net worth estate planning should be handled carefully, so that your estate, which you’ve worked hard…
Read MoreEstate Planning is for Everyone
A common planning misconception is that only those with vast assets need an estate plan. But, it is important to emphasize that estate planning is not just for the wealthy. For many, the word “estate” conjures up a Downton Abbey-like property and an overwhelming amount of zeros on your bank account balance, but estate planning is a must, regardless of your tax bracket. An estate plan concerns…
Read More5 Must-Have Estate Planning Documents
As the New Year progresses, there is no better time to start thinking about estate planning. To start your year off right, here is a checklist of the five must-have pieces to every solid estate plan. 1. Will This is the most obvious starting point of every estate plan – and, in fact, most people who have done some form of estate planning probably…
Read More5 Estate Planning Nightmares from Around the Country
With the proper estate planning, the following situations could have been avoided. The truth is, many fail to adequately plan their estate, which can potentially lead to outcomes such as these worst-case scenarios. 1. Mom had been in the nursing home on private pay for over 7 years. After paying over $700,000 to the nursing…
Read MoreFireside Reading with a Side of Estate Planning
After creating a will, circumstances may emerge that prompt a desire to change various aspects of the document. Divorces, new marriages, additional children, familial disagreements and shifting allegiances to charities can each impact a will. Adding a codicil is a way to amend the document without creating an entirely new document. A codicil is a…
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