Estate planning

A will is a crucial legal document that states what happens to a person’s assets after they pass away. After a person dies, typically, their will is submitted to probate court and their assets are distributed to their beneficiaries. However, when a person dies without...

If you and your spouse will be divorcing in the near future or you’ve already begun the process, you may have had too much on your mind to think about your estate plan. However, if you have one in place, it’s important to understand how the divorce will affect it. ...

A special needs trust is a specific type of trust used when you have a beneficiary who has a condition that means they will need extra care and assistance. This could be a physical disability, a cognitive disability, a developmental issue or something else entirely....

If you and your long-time partner have decided that things are going just fine without taking the step of legally codifying your relationship, you aren’t alone. People make this choice for all kinds of reasons. While this can make a potential break-up in the future...

It’s true that most people haven’t written a will or done anything else to create an estate plan. One reason for this is that many people just think that they’re too young at the moment, so they’re waiting until they get older—perhaps until they retire from their...

A stroke. A fall. A sudden diagnosis. In an instant, you could lose the ability to speak or make decisions. Incapacity doesn’t just affect the elderly—it can happen to anyone. Knowing what it means and how it affects your future helps protect you and the people you...

One thing you may want to consider when writing an estate plan is using a medical power of attorney. In the future, it’s possible that you could become incapacitated and unable to make your own medical decisions. Someone still has to make those decisions on your...

When creating a will, one of the most important decisions you’ll make is choosing your personal representative. This isn’t just a legal formality; it’s a decision that can shape everything that happens after you’re gone. Your personal representative will be in charge...

Planning for the future often means thinking beyond finances. Medical decisions are just as important. Adding health care preferences to your estate plan can help ensure that your wishes are respected if you cannot speak for yourself. Here are some tools that you can...

Have you been thinking about estate planning, but just haven’t done it yet? You’re not the only one. Reports show that this is what most Americans do—and only about a third of them have actually gotten a plan in place. If you pass away without an estate plan, it’s...