Everyone needs an estate plan regardless of the size of their assets. A properly written estate plan guarantees that your wishes will be honored when you pass on and that your assets will be distributed exactly how you want them to be. But what happens when things...
When you received a serious medical diagnosis, it made you start thinking about your plans for the future. You realized that you didn't have an estate plan yet, so you decided that it was time to get one put in place for your family. This is a good time to do your...
All adults should have an estate plan in place, but many don’t realize that they need to get their power of attorney designations handled right away. These designations give someone the legal ability to make decisions on your behalf if you become incapacitated. ...
Unfortunately, estate planning is an area of the law that is often plagued by myths. You'll find you will many people repeat these myths if you ask them about their plan or if you find out that they simply haven't made an estate plan. To help you avoid the same...
You generally use your estate plan to pass on your assets. However, you may be able to use it to pass on your personal values and things that you find important. One way to do this is by using a trust. A trust is a financial device that allows you to set money aside,...
Your estate plan is meant to persist after you die and give instructions to others about your final legacy. It will provide information about who will serve as the guardian of any children you have and offer instructions about how to distribute your property after you...
If your parent is getting older and they don't have an estate plan, you might want to talk to them about that. Especially if you only have one living parent or if your parents have divorced, having an estate plan in place is very important for your family. Encouraging...
Putting your estate plans in order is a gift for your loved ones. Your clear direction can help them resolve any lingering doubts about what you might want in your final hours or how you want your assets and personal belongings divided. An advance health care...
If you’ve just been given a serious diagnosis, such as late-stage cancer, your first thought is likely about what treatment options you have. At the same time, though, you also want to think about what else you need to do in case that treatment does not work or...
Most of your estate plan will focus on what happens to your property after your death. However, a thorough estate plan should also protect you in the event of a medical emergency. A workplace fall, a seizure or a cardiac event could leave you in a coma and unable to...
