People often engage in transactions that result in money being owed to them, such as loaning money to a friend or business partner or renting a house to a tenant. But what happens if someone passes away before they receive the money owed to them? Can someone else...
Estate planning
Four Things Your Spouse Should Know Before You Die
It is normal for married couples to share almost every aspect of their lives with each other. But when it comes to death, even the closest couples might become tight-lipped about certain topics. According to one study, half of all couples fail to discuss their dying...
Are You Single with a Minor Child? If So, You Need a Plan.
If you have a young child who depends on you, it's important to ensure they will be taken care of if a crisis leaves you unable to. By making an estate plan, you can deal with the care and custody of your child and give directions on how your money and property should...
Retirement Plans Are Not Complete Without An Updated Estate Plan
Retirement (or partial retirement) is a milestone that is worth celebrating. You have put in many years of hard work, and you are now able to focus your energy on the next chapter of your life. But just as you had to plan to get here, you need to plan for this new...
Why a Trust Is the Best Option to Avoid Probate
When someone passes away, the process of mourning is often interrupted with paperwork and material concerns associated with the passing. With adequate planning, these matters become more predictable and straightforward, allowing them to fade into the background during...
An Estate Plan Should Not Be a Set-It-and-Forget-It Endeavor
As we all know, life happens. There is really nothing we can do about it. However, some of the most common life events can have a dramatic effect on your estate plan. If you think your estate plan is like a slow cooker and you can set it and forget it, you and your...
Estate and inheritance taxes: what exactly is the difference?
The death of a loved one overwhelms those left behind. If you stand to inherit the deceased's assets, you must understand what you will inherit and how taxes will impact that bequest. When planning your estate, it is important to consider how much your loved ones will...
Why Singles Should Worry about Estate Planning
As a single individual, you may feel overwhelmed when you think about who will step in and make decisions for you if you cannot make decisions for yourself and who will receive your money and property when you die. You may consider your parents or siblings, but...
Estate Planning: Answering Common Questions of Senior Citizens
According to a study conducted by Caring.com, the percentage of people aged fifty-five and older who have created a will has fallen from 60 percent to 44 percent since 2019. Although creating or updating your estate planning may seem like a daunting task, a proper...
When should you update your estate plan?
Many people consider an estate plan a finished document. The truth is that individuals should review and revise elements of the plan on a regular basis. Even if you do not update the plan every three to five years as recommended, it is crucial that you make changes...