Articles

According to many surveys, the majority of Americans don’t have an estate plan. Many of us know why we SHOULD have one. When I ask clients why it’s important to have a plan in place, most times they state two…

If you are looking for a cautionary tale highlighting the pain and expense of dying without an estate plan, Exhibit A is the rock music icon Prince’s estate. It has been two years since news broke that Prince passed away…

Many people equate estate planning with postmortem concerns. Basically, what happens to their property and money after they pass on. However, an estate plan can, and should, incorporate long-term care. Why It is So Critical to Have a Plan in…

It’s one of the proudest moments a parent can experience – sending their child off to college. It is a recognition that your child is entering a new chapter in life where they will (hopefully) learn to become an independent,…

A commonly asked question by clients is “when should I schedule a comprehensive review of my estate plan?” First and foremost, if you are asking this question, you are ahead of the game. A recent survey showed nearly 65 percent of…

When you are creating your estate plan, an objective you should strive for is structuring your plan in a way to avoid probate. Probate is a statutorily-based  way of settling an estate requiring the oversight of a court. When probate is…

If you have a high-value estate, you can breathe easy about the federal government levying an onerous tax after you pass on. Congress passed, and the President signed into law, new tax legislation that will double the amount exempt from…

For many people, a pet is like a child. In fact, family pets are often referred to as “fur babies.” Just like a child, there needs to be a plan in place to make sure they are taken care of,…

If you have a trust as part of your estate plan, you will need to select someone, whether it be a friend, family member, or colleague, to serve as the trustee. This is a critical step because the trustee is…

When you pass on, you want your loved ones to get your assets in the most cost-effective, time-efficient manner possible. To accomplish this objective, you may be looking to avoid probate and placing a majority of your assets into a…