Estate planning is an important process for married couples. This effort helps ensure that assets are protected and distributed according to a couple’s wishes. With that being said, many couples assume that a joint estate plan is sufficient. In reality, spouses often...
Estate Planning
Estate planning for out-of-state assets
Owning property or other assets in multiple states can complicate your estate plan. However, with the right approach, you can protect your loved ones from unnecessary burdens after you’re gone. Every state has its own laws for handling property after death, making it...
Employing legal tax avoidance when estate planning
Effective estate planning is about more than just deciding who inherits your assets; it’s also about minimizing tax burdens on your loved ones. Legal tax avoidance strategies can help preserve the wealth you’ve worked hard to build while better ensuring that your...
3 tips for discussing estate planning with your family
You don't need to explain your estate planning decisions to your family, but it can help to discuss your wishes with them. This can reduce the chances of conflicts in the future, especially if you have distributed inheritance unequally. But how can you hold such a...
Estate planning steps after relocating to California
When planning to relocate, you probably take steps to ensure a smooth, stress-free move, such as securing a residence and setting up utilities in advance. Like most, you probably give little thought to updating your estate plan. Yet, it is a critical consideration...
How is a pour-over will different from a standard will?
Most people establishing an estate plan choose between using a trust or a will as their primary testamentary instrument. A standard will allows the testator to name candidates to serve as their personal representatives. They can identify their beneficiaries and...
How does a charitable remainder trust work?
A charitable remainder trust (CRT) is a great way to give to a cause you care about while securing financial benefits for yourself, your estate and your loved ones. Here is how it works. Once you create a CRT and place assets like money, stocks or property into it,...
How to reduce the odds of an estate dispute
Avoiding estate disputes may be one of your top goals as you consider your family’s future. Perhaps you’ve heard stories of other families where adult siblings become embroiled in estate disputes that they can never overcome, leading to long-term friction. So, how do...
2 types of charitable trusts
People who are creating their estate plan sometimes want to support a charity of their choice. One option they have for doing this is to establish a charitable trust that makes it possible to make a posthumous donation. Anyone who wants to establish a charitable trust...
When and why to update your estate plan documents
Many people mistakenly believe their work is complete upon finalizing their estate planning documents. However, estate planning is not a one-time task you forget about once done. It’s equally crucial to update your estate plan to ensure that it’s aligned with your...