Estate Planning

A revocable trust is an estate planning tool, also known as a "living trust." The purpose of this legal document is to transfer ownership of your assets while you are still living and of sound mind. Revocable means that the creator of the trust (the "grantor") can...

Choosing a guardian for young children is probably the most important estate planning step for parents. If anything happens to a child’s parent(s), the guardian that they name will assume responsibility for that child and manage their resources until they reach...

There are many reasons that people choose to add a trust to their estate plans. One of the biggest benefits is having a trustee oversee the management and distribution of trust resources. A trustee, who may receive compensation for their services in some cases, will...

Many people think about their will when they consider an estate plan but that’s not the only legal resource that they need to create when crafting an estate plan. Another important reference to prepare when you’re working on your estate plan is at least one power of...

When was the last time you sat down and took a long hard look at your will? Maybe it’s been a decade, which is likely much too long for an estate plan to stay the same. Or, maybe it’s only been a year, but life can change in the blink of an eye and you may need to...

There are many reasons why a parent may not want to leave much to their children when creating an estate plan. Perhaps they have become estranged from their child and have not spoken to them in years. Such scenarios are common when children develop substance abuse...

You may feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to provide an inheritance for your children or other loved ones. The resources in your name when you die could help your children pay off their mortgages or enjoy a higher standard of living. However, an inheritance...

Movies, TV shows and books mostly only discuss the distribution process of a will, leaving many people with the wrong impression of what estate planning is all about. Estate planning involves so much more than designating beneficiaries to inherit your estate. Here’s...

As a business owner who is doing estate planning, passing that business on to your children is a major part of what you want to accomplish. You know well that family businesses often struggle to survive in the next generation. You want to do everything in your power...

You may have created the basics of an estate plan when you turned 18 and could no longer depend on your parents to make your medical decisions in an emergency. By drafting advance directives and powers of attorney, you protect yourself in the event of medical...