Estate Planning

Old movies and plays sometimes show all the family seated together in a room waiting for their loved one’s will to be read out to them all at once. That rarely happens these days. Instead, people are generally notified individually of what the will says. Nonetheless,...

A power of attorney (POA) is a document that empowers an agent or representative to act on behalf of an individual or “principal.” The POA has the authority to make decisions that would be in the best interests of the principal.  There are several things you should...

During the testator’s life, they appointed a trusted executor in their estate plan. The executor’s main role is to settle the estate by carrying out the instructions laid out in the testator’s will.  The executor has many duties to fulfill before an estate is settled....

If you’re like a lot of people, you’ve postponed creating your estate plan until you’re well into your senior years. Maybe you have one in place, but you haven’t updated it in some time (or ever), and you want to make some significant changes. You may have some...

Suffering from a disability or other impairments can take a significant toll on an individual. When these conditions make them incapacitated, they may need help from someone else to make personal and medical decisions on their behalf, which typically happens in...

One of the most important initial first steps in estate planning is determining what your primary goals are. If you’re a parent or grandparent, one of these goals may be to ensure that the children in your life can get the best possible education.  A 529 education...

When you set up a special needs trust, you are planning for the long-term financial security and well-being of a loved one with disabilities. As such, the approach of the trustee whom you appoint to manage the trust should resonate with your goal and plans for its...

Wills are a great way of ensuring your assets are managed as per your exact wishes after you die, providing a clear plan for your estate. However, cases of wills getting contested are not uncommon and they can arise, potentially leading to lengthy legal battles and...

A living trust is a legal instrument that names a trustee to manage a person's funds or other assets while they are still living. The person, also known as the grantor, establishes a living trust by signing a Declaration of Trust. The grantor's assets, which they name...

One of the primary goals of estate planning is to ensure the financial security of your loved ones after you pass away. However, without careful consideration, a significant portion of the assets you intend for your beneficiaries could go towards an inheritance tax....