Latest Blog Posts

Estate Planning for Rental Property Owners

Yes, you should place your rental properties in your living trust. The trust is a mechanism to avoid probate, minimize estate taxes and allow for management of assets in case of your incapacity. Real estate is a perfect fit for a trust. If you do not place the assets you own in trust name there are no such benefits.

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Estate Planning Is More Than Just Death Planning

Estate planning is the process of making a plan for how your assets will be distributed upon your death or incapacitation. Through estate planning, you can ensure your assets are given to the people and organizations you care about and also take steps to minimize the impact of taxes and other costs on your estate.

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When is probate necessary?

Whether or not you have an estate plan in place, you have likely heard the term “probate”. Probate is the legal process by which a deceased individual’s assets are distributed under court supervision. This process is necessary to distribute assets that are solely in the name of the deceased person. Probate is governed by state law.

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Is now the time to remodel your old trust?

There are several reasons why you should update your existing trust or perhaps your entire estate plan. While estate planning documents do not necessarily have a shelf life, they may not fulfill your goals when your circumstances change. Of course, having estate planning documents that are up-to-date is critical, but how do you know when you should make changes?

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Saying “I Love You” With Your Estate Plan

While saying the words “I love you” is indeed romantic, you should know that putting together a well-crafted estate plan is a concrete way to care for your family in the long run. This is because doing so will help prevent your surviving family members from scrambling to figure out what to do next while they are still in the grieving process.

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How many plans do I need?

Most folks have at least heard of an estate plan. But fewer realize that a simple will is not enough to prepare for your future. In fact, a combination of plans - financial, tax, legacy, and estate - are vital to your financial well-being and protection of your assets...

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The Perils of Joint Property

People often set up bank accounts or real estate so that they own it jointly with a spouse or other family member. The appeal of joint tenancy is that when one owner dies, the other will automatically inherit the property without it having to go through probate. Joint...

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Do you really need a trust?

Although many people equate “estate planning” with having a will, there are many advantages to having a trust rather than a will as the centerpiece of your estate plan. While there are other estate planning tools (such as joint tenancy, transfer on death, beneficiary...

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Do you really need a will?

You May Not Think You Need a Will, But You Really Do. Most Americans do not have a simple will as part of their estate plan. You might believe that a will is only for the rich and famous, and not the average person who has a far smaller net worth. On the other hand,...

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How to Choose a Trustee

When you establish a trust, you name someone to be the trustee. A trustee does what you do right now with your financial affairs - collect income, pay bills and taxes, save and invest for the future, buy and sell assets, provide for your loved ones, keep accurate...

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Who Needs an Estate Plan?

If you’re reading this, you need an estate plan. Why? The short answer is “Everyone, age 18 and older needs an estate plan.” It doesn’t matter if you are old or young, if you have built up considerable wealth or if you are just entering adulthood - you need a written...

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The Pros and Cons of Probate

In estate planning circles, the word “probate” often comes with a starkly negative connotation. Indeed, for many people — especially those with larger estates — financial planners recommend trying to keep property out of probate whenever possible. That being said, the...

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Estate Planning for Physicians

You’re smart and you worked hard in college and medical school; you’re respected in the medical profession and your community; you’ve got a nice house and car. Unfortunately - there’s a downside to all of that. As your worst nightmare suggests, there’s always someone...

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Stress Test Your Estate Plan

So you've done the hard work of establishing an estate plan. Good on you, as they say across the Pond. However, you still have serious work to do to ensure that the strategy you've selected will maximize your peace of mind and protect your legacy. Estate plans are...

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What To Do After a Loved One Dies

If you've been appointed an executor of a loved one's estate or a successor trustee, and that person dies, your grief – not to mention your to-do list, including tasks ranging from planning the funeral, coordinating relatives coming in from out of town and...

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What is estate planning?

It may surprise you to know that estate planning has very little to do with money or legal documents. Estate planning is really about creating your legacy: protecting and providing for you, your loved ones, and your property; staying in control; and offering guidance.

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