January 11, 2022Five Ways People Make Estate Planning MistakesAs an adult, you spend the first half of your life trying to achieve financial security, and the second half trying to maintain it. Due to this adage, many people devote significant time and effort to maximizing their legacy goals…
October 1, 2021The Importance of Estate Planning for Young FamiliesIt is fairly typical for young adults, even those with professional careers aged thirty or more, to believe they are too young to concern themselves with estate planning. Young adults in their twenties and thirties often think they don’t own…
September 24, 2021What Happens to the Estate When There Is No Will?The percentage of older adults without a will has remained mostly unchanged, despite the coronavirus pandemic according to a report by caring.com. Remarkably, younger adults with a will show an increase of sixty-three percent comparative to pre-pandemic times. This 18…
September 3, 2021A Guide for Understanding the Probate ProcessProbate is the legal process of handling the estate of someone who has passed, where an executor assists in the distribution of the assets, clearing any debts, and finalizing any taxes owed in accordance with the will. To begin probate,…
July 30, 2021How Does the Probate Process Work?The probate process involves authenticating the deceased individual’s will, assessing the assets, settling debts and taxes, and oversee the allocation of the inheritance. After an asset-holder dies, the court will appoint a valid will’s executor to administer the probate process.…
June 25, 2021How does Per Stirpes Work?As I was doing research on wills, I found that I could leave my property to my children “per stripes.” Why is the law talking about us like we’re some kind of zebra? The phrase is Latin and it is…
March 12, 2021The Basics of Estate PlanningMany people think that estate planning sounds like the domain of the very wealthy, however, in the eyes of the law, an estate is simply the aggregate of property an individual owns, and most everyone owns something. Property ownership includes…
February 5, 2021DIY Estate Planning and WarningsWe hear this question all the time: “Can’t I just grab a will off the internet, do a transfer-on-death deed for my land, put my kids on my bank account, and be done with my estate plan?” It’s just not…
January 15, 2021The probate ProcessProbate is the legal process for authenticating a deceased person’s will, reviewing their assets, paying their outstanding debts and taxes, and distributing what remains to their inheritors. After an asset-holder dies, the court will appoint a valid will’s executor to…
November 30, 2020How Adding a Personal Property Memorandum in Conjunction with your Will or Trust can HelpMost of the time, family members end up arguing over mom or dad’s favorite items when that parent dies. Arguments can take place over things like a coffee mug, a piece of jewelry or a painting. These types of arguments…
