Creating a will is often a complicated process that involves someone going to a lawyer's office to discuss terms and then coming back later to sign a finalized draft in front of the attorney and a notary. That process exists for a reason. The notary serves as a...
Creating an estate plan can help your loved ones to know what you want to happen in your final days if you become incapacitated. It also sets up the distribution of your assets when you pass away. While many people think of estate planning as a one-and-done event,...
Family businesses are more than a job. They’re often a way of life. You want your loved ones to continue taking care of the company once you’re gone, but you also want the company to care for your family – and that can require planting the seeds of succession early....
We live in uncertain times, and many people are concerned about their future. That’s causing a lot of people to write their wills, hoping that if something happens to them, their loved ones will at least have some direction and a measure of security. Maybe you’ve...
You’re getting older -- and that’s just fine. At the same time, however, you find your thoughts occasionally drifting toward your own mortality and the loved ones you’ll leave behind. You want to make things as easy as possible for them when it comes to handling your...
When you think about creating a will, you might think that it’s good enough on its own. It isn’t, really, but there are a few reasons for that. A will needs to be considered one part of a well-rounded estate plan. It’s the one document you have to express your wishes...
Estate planning is all about looking to the future, in the hopes of providing security one for oneself and loved ones. The appropriate use of the tools of estate planning can facilitate that, and one key category of tools is the trust. Trusts can help with the passing...
Have you ever wondered how long it will be until you have done your job as a parent and can proudly send your children out into the world? Have you thought about how it will be when they grow up, what they will be like, and whether you will become a grandparent? You...
You’re ready to start making your will and getting your estate plans in order -- but where do you even start? It’s one thing to gather up a list of all your assets and accounts. It’s quite another to try to figure out what should be done with them after you are gone....
Most people reach a point when they realize it is time to make a plan that will protect their loved ones and their property after they are gone. Sometimes this realization comes relatively early such as when they get married or have a child. Other times, the...