Wills And Trusts

Right in the midst of celebrating new life and the birth of their first child, many parents find themselves contemplating their own mortality. If you are a new parent, naturally, you want to make sure that if anything happens to you before your child is grown that...

Whether a will is being drafted for the first time or modified, it must accurately reflect the wishes of the testator. There may be several parties with an interest in the will, but they cannot modify its terms or coerce the testator into making changes. Putting...

Once you decide it’s time to start your estate planning, you have many options to consider. For example, you may discover you need more than a simple will to meet your and your family’s needs. You probably know you can add a trust to your estate plan, but did you know...

A codicil modifies or adds to a previously executed will. It is a legal document you can use to make minor changes to a will, such as changing the executor, adding or removing beneficiaries or altering specific gifts.  A codicil operates as an amendment to a will. You...

Many long-married couples who want to make their estate planning simple and cost-effective think the best way to do that is to have a joint will. They often picture one document developed and signed by both spouses stating their wishes for their assets – most, if not...

People create trusts as part of their estate plans for many reasons. Perhaps they have a family member with special needs or a history of substance abuse that they want to protect from the risks of a lump-sum inheritance. Maybe they have a blended family and want to...

Taking someone out of your will can be a challenging thing to do. However, some situations may call for disinheritance.  But, should you inform the person you want to disinherit about your decision? This guide discusses this matter and may give you a few things to...

Estate planning can be beneficial to all adults. The process centers around putting your final wishes into legally binding documents. This way, your assets can be distributed according to your wishes upon your death. One term that you might have heard is trust. What...

Trusts are useful inclusions in many people's estate plans. They can help someone achieve their personal legacy goals, from setting up a charitable resource for disadvantaged college students to providing for a family member with special needs. The intent of a trust...

There are many ways to use a trust. One example is to use a discretionary trust, where the trustee gets to work with the beneficiary to make decisions on how the money is spent. Another option is to choose a specific focus. Maybe you want the trust to help your heir...