Estate Planning

Artificial intelligence has made it easier than ever for individuals to begin estate planning. With just a few prompts, AI tools can generate templates, offer suggestions and help users get a general sense of what an estate plan might include.  For those just...

The future is unpredictable. People never know when they might get hurt in a car crash or random criminal activity. They could have a major medical event, like a heart attack or a stroke. There are countless different scenarios that can leave people seriously ill or...

A living will isn't something most people end up thinking about day to day, but it can actually end up becoming one of the most important documents you will ever create. It speaks for you even when you can’t speak for yourself. Planning for medical decisions isn't...

People don’t make estate plans nearly as often as they should. For example, only about a third of Americans have an estate plan right now. Eventually, 100% of Americans will pass away, meaning there is a clear need for an estate plan to make medical decisions or...

When it comes to passing someone’s assets on after they die, states already have laws on the books for how this should be done. These laws can allocate those assets to a surviving spouse, the person’s children, their parents, their siblings and other relatives. If...

Creating an estate plan is important for all adults. This plan outlines what they want to happen if they become incapacitated, but it also includes how their assets should be handled when they pass away. One thing that some people don’t realize is that part of...

Procrastination is part of human nature. People put off activities that seem unpleasant or demanding. In some cases, individuals do themselves and their loved ones a real disservice by procrastinating on key issues. For example, many people with valuable property or...

Recently we discussed various ways to incorporate charitable giving into your estate plan. Let’s look at one method in detail. A charitable remainder trust (CRT) is an estate planning tool that allows individuals to support charitable organizations while also...

After naming a guardian for their minor child, some parents change their choice before the first-named party assumes their duties. Different reasons can contribute to this decision.  Here are three of them: 1. Guardian no longer wants to do it Your chosen guardian may...

Financial stability is one of the recommended qualities to consider when naming a guardian for a minor child. But why does it matter if your chosen guardian is financially stable if you will leave money for your child's needs? Here is why: Unexpected costs  Raising a...