People who have achieved financial stability or professional success often want to share their good fortune with others. One of the ways they accomplish that goal is through transferring their wealth to specific beneficiaries after they die. Those with valuable...
Establishing an estate plan is a standard right extended to most legal adults. Anyone over the age of 18 can potentially draft a will and other estate planning documents to protect themselves, provide for family members and establish a legacy. Most adults can create...
An adult who is establishing an estate plan typically has to identify the assets they need to address. They also need to decide who they want to receive their property after their passing. Often, the focus on resources and beneficiaries can leave people with...
Procrastination is part of human nature, and many otherwise responsible adults delay completing actions that they find unpleasant as a result. Few activities are more stressful than deeply contemplating one's own eventual death or medical incapacitation. However, that...
Someone’s estate plans are supposed to reflect (among other things) their heartfelt desires for what should happen to their assets when they are gone. That’s why testators are expected to be of sound mind when they make their wills, establish a trust or set other...
You probably know that if your loved one changed their will at the last minute, it could be a sign of undue influence or other issues. At the same time, you have to question what “last minute” really means. What constitutes a change in a will that shouldn’t be legal...
You might think that when you die, you can finally stop worrying about taxes. Sadly, life doesn't work that way. Even after your death, the government will still try to lay claim to your property, possibly at the expense of the legacy you want to leave for the people...
For legal purposes, mental capacity comes down to your right to make your own decisions. There are times when people do have the mental capacity to make their own decisions and times when they do not. Someone will have the mental capacity to make a decision for...
A last will or estate plan should be a reflection of somebody's relationships and wishes. It is common for individuals to leave inheritances for the people who depend on them and those with whom they feel closest throughout their lives. Sadly, the legacy your loved...
Other than conflicts among family members and probate avoidance, taxes are one of the top-cited concerns for those hoping to create a comprehensive estate plan. No one wants their legacy unnecessarily diminished by estate taxes, especially because they have already...