Have You Completed Your Back-to-School Estate Planning Homework?
The school season is right around the corner. If you are a parent, you have likely bought your little ones the essential items they need to get them through the school year. However, have you thought about how your kids would fare if you pass away during their youth, teens, or early adult years? Designate…
Read More9 Major Life Events That Should Remind You to Update Your Estate Plan
An estate plan is not something you can set in place and then forget. When your life undergoes a significant change, you probably need to make some adjustments to ensure that your plan still functions the way you want. Let’s review a few major life events that provide good reasons to update your estate plan.…
Read MoreProtect Your Young Adult with an Estate Plan
Most people think making an estate plan is something to do later in life, after someone has acquired considerable assets. But estate planning covers much more than just property issues. That means you should be concerned about appropriate estate planning for your young adult children as well as for yourself. Why Estate Planning for Your…
Read MoreDoes a Will Help You Avoid Probate in Florida?
Wills are valuable tools for distributing property and reducing the stress on families after a loved one has passed. But does a will eliminate the need to probate an estate in Florida? The short answer is, no. Having a will can make distribution easier, but on its own, a will cannot keep your estate from…
Read MoreHealthcare Decision-Making Should Be Part of Your Estate Plan
Your estate plan should include critical health-related documents as well as traditional property documents such as wills and trusts. That means that preparing your estate plan will involve issues such as determining who will make healthcare decisions on your behalf if you become incapacitated. There is no recommended age to prepare healthcare documents–in fact, the…
Read MoreWhat Happens If You Don’t Have a Will or Trust?
When you die without leaving a will, you are said to have died “intestate” and the government decides how to distribute your property according to the laws of intestate succession. These laws may or may not allocate assets in the manner you would choose. If you are married and have children, the laws generally divide…
Read MoreHolding an Estate Planning “Fire Drill”
Getting your affairs in order through an estate plan is a great way to prepare for your future, but have you ever thought about how your family will follow your instructions after your death? An estate planning “fire drill” will help you and your family openly talk and ask questions about your estate plan. Just like…
Read MoreAvoid Probate by Funding Your Living Trust
Clients often create a living trust to provide for themselves and their loved ones—only to forget to fund it. Many others mistakenly believe that a trust automatically funds itself after a lawyer approves it. The truth is, you must take steps to fund your living trust if you want your beneficiaries to avoid a long…
Read MoreThree Estate Planning Factors to Consider Before Year-End
With COVID-19 continuing to create an unpredictable future, it’s important to consider some estate planning factors before the year’s end. By thinking ahead now and knowing what to look for, you can futureproof your estate plan and further your goals for years to come. You may also be able to take advantage of certain tax…
Read MoreWhat Is Typically Included in an Estate Plan?
Your estate plan gives your loved ones detailed instructions for the distribution of your property and assets, healthcare should you need it, and financial protection. An estate plan can be a valuable tool to protect and safeguard what you’ve worked so hard to achieve. It can also provide for healthcare or financial decisions should you…
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