When you’re planning a way to pass on inheritances or protect your assets, one of the options you may select is to create a trust or multiple trusts to do so. It is necessary to understand the basics of how a trust works to make sure you set it up to be as protective...
Estate Planning Blog
Why every college student and young worker needs an estate plan
College and early stages of career development aren't typically when people think about the end of their lives. After all, everything for them is just beginning. However, even a freshman in college and someone with their first real job needs an estate plan. Contrary...
Why should you create a special needs trust?
When you are working on your estate plan, one thing you may want to create is a supplemental needs trust. A supplemental needs trust is a legal document that creates a trust fund for one of your beneficiaries, who has a chronic illness or disability that requires...
Now is the time to update and review your estate plan
As the year draws to a close, you may have many concerns on your mind. For example, you may find yourself thinking about your family relationships as you plan for the holidays, or you may think about your previous vacations as you plan for your annual winter trip. If...
How do you pick the right guardian for your children?
Becoming a parent changes people. Their child quickly becomes the most important consideration in every decision, ranging from where the family lives to how they spend the holidays. As a new parent, your life has probably changed a lot in the last few years. You will,...
Getting remarried? Revisit your estate plan
You went through a divorce, and you didn’t think you’d remarry again. You left most of your estate plan alone, because in your mind, you would never want to give those assets to anyone other than the spouse who left you. At the time, you felt it was fair to leave them...
How often should you review your estate plan?
An estate plan is a collection of legal documents that help organize your personal and financial affairs. Your estate planning documents may include trusts, wills, your Do-Not-Resuscitate order or other important items that help protect you and your beneficiaries....
5 reasons why a will might need updating
When you create a will, you shouldn’t think of that as a final document. Instead, think of it as a living document that you need to reflect on over time. When you first create a will, there may be people included that aren’t around you in another five or 10 years. You...
Have you properly designated beneficiaries for your estate?
There are generally two kinds of personal information you need when creating your estate plan. Beyond understanding basic probate laws, you also need information about your assets and about the people whom you wish to inherit your property. Your heirs or beneficiaries...
Distinguishing between supplemental needs and special needs trusts
Many parents who have a child with special needs have to concern themselves with: - Ensuring that they've earmarked someone to take care of their child if they are unable to do so - Ensuring they remain eligible for government benefits such as Medicaid - Ensuring...