As a real estate owner, it’s important to consider what will happen to your property (or properties) upon your death. With the right approach, you can ensure that it doesn’t go through probate, which saves your beneficiary both time and money. A Lady Bird deed is one of the most efficient and inexpensive ways to … Read more
Offers that sound too good to be true usually are. The unscrupulous try to draw you in and then sell you services that are not appropriate for you. Unfortunately, as with almost any other product or service, there are scam artists, often called a “trust mill,” that purport to offer estate planning services at a bargain. These … Read more
Do you own “real” property? Are you looking for a way to avoid probate? If you answered yes to both questions, a transfer on death deed may be right for you. This simple document can help you inexpensively and efficiently avoid probate for real estate. In the most basic of terms,this kind of deed allows … Read more
Death is a certainty so have a discussion with family. When we are adolescents, we feel invulnerable to risks and think of death as an uncertain concept. In the prime of our life, we know the risks, but we still think of planning for “if I die.” When we pass life’s prime, death is not nearly … Read more
The death of someone near and dear can be a stressful and confusing time. Your life is disrupted emotionally and logistically by the loss and your grief. Who will take care of everything? Who has what responsibilities? Let’s look at the different roles involved after someone’s death: Executor—The Executor or Executrix, also known as the … Read more
When a celebrity passes away, it’s natural for their estate plan to get a lot of attention in the media. And that’s definitely the case if an inheritance battle ensues. Earlier this year, musician Aaron Carter unexpectedly passed away at the age of 34 years old. With no Will in place, it wasn’t long before … Read more
As someone who is new to estate planning, you can expect to have reservations about whether or not you’re making all the right moves. Along the way, it’s natural to have various questions related to estate planning. Here’s the problem. Many people have questions but neglect to answer them. And when that happens, they’re never … Read more
If you lack estate planning knowledge, it’s natural to feel stuck. Even if you want to create an estate plan, you’re unsure of where to start. And with that, you’re more likely to drag your feet. But here’s the good thing: you can create an estate plan with no knowledge at all. Here are three … Read more
“Everybody talks about the weather, but nobody does anything about it.” Mark Twain. Similarly, people talk about estate planning and know they should do it, but, according to an AARP survey, 60% of Americans do not even have a simple will. We are all mortal. So why don’t we plan? Two common reasons are procrastination and lack … Read more
Just because you’ve created an estate plan doesn’t mean you’re confident in everything it stands for. Maybe you took a DIY approach the first time around. Or perhaps your personal circumstances have changed. If you’ve lost confidence in your estate plan, you must take steps to get it back. The last thing you want to … Read more