Estate planning involves not only making arrangements to care for your loved ones, but also expressing your wishes in case of your own incapacitation or death. You can create an advance health care directive to express your desires when facing end-of-life issues.
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What to Expect if You've Been Appointed as an Executor
According to a 2018 study by EstateExec.com, on average, settling an estate takes the executor about 16 months or approximately 570 hours of effort. Being appointed as the executor of an estate is a great honor that comes with huge responsibilities.
Wills vs. Trusts: Which One is Right for You?
According to a new Caring.com survey, only 32.9% of U.S. adults currently have estate planning documents such as a trust or will. Settling the final affairs of a deceased person and distributing their assets to inheritors without a will, trust, or estate plan can bring about several challenges.
Probate Terms to Know
When it comes to the process of probate, many people are unfamiliar with what it is and how it works. Whether you are planning your estate or have recently lost a loved one and dealing with the probate process, having an experienced attorney guiding you through the process and educating you on important probate terms can help.
The Importance of Signing a HIPAA Release During Estate Planning
Estate planning is not just about setting up wills and trusts to care for your loved ones when you’re gone. It’s also about preparing for the unexpected surprises in your own life, especially when it comes to your own health.
The Risks of Writing Your Own Will
There are so many resources online that show you how to do everything from making a gourmet dish to refinishing a piece of furniture. While some things are worth embracing the “DIY spirit” and doing yourself, writing your will on your own is not one of them. What...
Protecting Your Adult Children Using Powers of Attorney
Your children are grown up and out of the house. You are proud of how independent they have become, but you are still their Mom or Dad. You want to be there to help them if they ever need it. When your kids were teenagers, you had parental rights over them that...
Could a Supplemental Needs Trust Help Your Loved One?
Disabled Californians rely on public benefits payments to support them in their daily lives. Receiving a large sum of money as an inheritance, however, can put those benefits at risk. In these cases, establishing a supplemental needs trust could give them the funding...
How Deficits in Estate Planning Can Lead to Probate Battles
The news often reports about persons in the public eye with fortune and fame that die suddenly without a will or with a terribly outdated estate plan. Because the celebrity with high net worth failed to address who will inherit their assets with a will or trust that...
Leaving a Home to Your Children: Things to Consider
Real estate is often among the most valuable assets we own. A house purchased a few decades ago may have ballooned in value, making it worth far more than you could have ever imagined. The question is: What should you do with it long-term? Many older adults want to...