When you establish a trust as part of your estate plan, you need to determine how you want that trust disbursed to the beneficiary. If you lack experience with trusts, you may not realize how many options you have for disbursement. No matter what your goal might be,...
Our Local Attorneys
Help You Protect Your Legacy
Estate Planning
How divorce affects your estate plan
When you find yourself facing a divorce, the last thing you might think about is your estate plan. Unfortunately, it is one of the first things that you should address. Your estate plan determines who receives your assets upon your death, and most people name their...
Stop using these excuses to avoid estate planning
Even though a majority of individuals understand the importance of having a will, very few people follow through and create an estate plan. Just like you use seat belts and smoke detectors to protect your family from harm, a will is a tool that protects their...
When should I update my estate plan?
An estate plan is a valuable tool that can help you secure assets for yourself in the present and for your heirs in the future. For this tool to have maximum value, however, it needs periodic updates to maintain accuracy. Here are a few life changes that require a...
What is the importance of choosing a good executor?
No matter who you plan to leave your personal belongings and assets to once you die, you will likely need a will to make your wishes clear. One part of crafting a will includes choosing an executor. This person is responsible for paying off your debts and helping your...
Pros and cons of a beneficiary deed
After working hard and acquiring property and assets, what happens to it upon your death? With life expectancy rates lowering for the first time in decades, those end-of-life decisions remain more important than ever. When it comes to real estate, you have options in...
Why should younger people have a will?
Too many people put off creating a will until they are nearing retirement. For some people, this is because they do not like to think about death. Others may delay because they do not realize the importance of such a document. There are many reasons why it is a good...
Common missteps in power of attorney documents
A power of attorney (POA) document is a powerful tool that many Americans use in their estate plans. According to Caring.com, 18- to 34-year-olds with an estate plan increased by 50 percent in the past two years. Unfortunately, many people who attempt to use a power...
What is the difference between a will and a trust?
Creating an estate plan is the best way to protect your assets when you are gone. It allows you to decide what happens to your property when you pass. There are many different elements to an estate plan that you can customize to suit your needs and desires, but the...
Are your 20s too early to start an estate plan?
There is a common misconception that writing a will is something that only rich older people do. However, young people also have assets to pass on and family worth considering. Your 20s are perfect years to start the estate planning process. When you understand how a...