Every one of us receives and passes on an inheritance. The inheritance may not be an accumulation of earthly possessions or acquired riches, but whether we realize it or not, our choices, words, actions, and values will impact someone and form the heritage we hand down. — Ben Hardesty Successful estate...
While you are alive, your assets are cared for in exactly the way you want, but do you know who will take care of things after you pass away? During the estate planning process, you will be asked to choose a fiduciary agent to serve on your behalf. Trustees, personal...
When a loved one suffers from a mental illness, estate planning takes on a whole other meaning. Who will care for them when you are gone, and how? One small comfort can be knowing that your trust can take care of them through thick and thin. Let’s explore a few...
Advice columnist Ann Landers once observed that “love is friendship that has caught fire.” If that’s true, there are thousands of ways for that blaze to unfold. For many Americans, such devotion and passion do not need to be neatly formalized as marriage. Yet while the love and commitment life partners...
Many people put their estate plan on their to-do list as a one-time project: “Create estate plan.” or “Meeting with lawyer 10:30 a.m. Thursday for estate plan.” Thinking of your estate plan as a single project or task to complete and move off your list is a common approach – but...
One misconception people have about life insurance is that naming beneficiaries is all you have to do to ensure the benefits will be available for a surviving spouse, children, or other intended beneficiary. Life insurance is an important estate planning tool, but without certain protections in place, there's no guarantee that your spouse...
Once you have determined that you need a will, gathering the information that will be needed for proper drafting is not usually difficult. A will preparation checklist can ensure that your will properly addresses all your needs. Remember that if you die without a will, a probate court will have no way...
If you are interested in learning more about a Pet Trusts for your beloved pets, contact us today!...
When you pass away, your family may need to visit a probate court in order to claim their inheritance. This can happen if you own property (like a house, car, bank account, investment account, or other asset) in only your name. Although having a will is a good basic form...
A pet trust is an excellent way to make sure your beloved pet will receive proper care after you pass on. The problem, of course, is that you won’t actually be there to see that your wishes are carried out. It’s critical to set up a pet trust correctly to...