If you ask people why they haven’t written a will, one thing that they often say is that they don’t think they need it at their age. Generally, these people are relatively young, and they assume that estate planning is something they’ll do in 20 or 30 years. Most...
Last year, Nevada’s reputation as a good place to set up a family trust made worldwide headlines. That’s because media scion Rupert Murdoch and his oldest son Lachlan sought a modification of the Murdoch Family Trust held in Nevada. This irrevocable asset-protection...
Creating an estate plan means that you have to do more than provide instructions about who gets which assets. Making plans for who will make decisions about your finances if you become incapacitated is another important task. A financial power of attorney is a tool...
There are many different estate planning tools to choose from and you might be wondering where to begin. With legal guidance to select and set up those that are most appropriate to the needs of you and your family, you can arrive at an estate plan that covers just...
Perhaps a grandparent has established a stronger connection with one grandchild than other family members. They may want to leave more resources to support that grandchild than the rest of their extended family after they die. Perhaps a parent has one child who...
Undue influence involves someone using their power or trust to manipulate another person's will decisions. It is a serious violation that can destroy a loved one's entire estate plan. If you suspect someone unduly influenced your family member's asset distribution...
You may have recently come across the term “ethical will.” If you are someone with a strong sense of ethics, or who cares about the environment, you might think that this will be a natural choice for you in the same way as you might have kept your money with an...
You may be aware that your parents have a significant amount of debt. Perhaps you have always been concerned about their spending habits or they have recently expressed trouble paying off large amounts of debt. It is possible this debt will remain unresolved when they...
Contrary to popular belief, estate planning is a dynamic process that evolves through every stage of life. Whether you are starting a family, buying a home or planning for retirement, keeping your estate plan current with your life stage is essential. Here are some...
When you write an estate plan, one step you should take is to choose an estate executor. This is the person who actually carries out the plan. They read your documentation, distribute copies to beneficiaries, inventory assets, pay debts and distribute assets...