Category Archives: Estate Planning

Many people think (incorrectly) that estate planning and crisis planning only concern end-of-life decisions and what happens to your possessions when you die. In reality, they encompass much more than that. There are several estate planning tools that can prove invaluable during your life, particularly in the event that you become incapacitated and can no […]

Making gifts to one’s heirs is typically fairly straightforward. The grantor decides which of his or her heirs to make provisions for, figures out how much they should receive, and names said heirs in his or her estate planning instruments, such as wills and trusts. However, making gifts to heirs with special needs can be […]

Probate law and estate planning are complex concepts. While many people may think they understand how estate planning works, it is far more nuanced than most realize. Estate planning — similar to life insurance — is one of those topics most people instinctively avoid, as it tends to remind them of their own mortality. However, […]

Life can change quickly. Changes such as marriages and births can result in estate plans becoming outdated and failing to take into account the presence (or absence) of certain heirs, including spouses and children. So what happens if you accidentally omit a spouse or child from your will? Fortunately, the law recognizes that accidents happen […]

Probate can be a time-consuming process, but depending on the size of the deceased person’s estate, an alternate, more streamlined process might be available for the distribution of the estate’s assets to the deceased’s heirs.  What is Probate? Probate is the process that must be undertaken in order to transfer the rights to a deceased’s […]

If you’ve been looking into estate planning for yourself or a family member, chances are good you’ve seen references to avoiding probate. But what exactly does this mean, and is it something you want to do? What is Probate? Probate is the name given to the legal process that must be followed in order to […]

An estate plan can do more than simply provide for your heirs in the event of your death. When you create a comprehensive estate plan, you’re giving yourself the peace of mind that comes with knowing your estate is prepared for a number of eventualities that might arise to complicate your future. The Durable Power […]