Myths and Frequently Asked Questions: Estate Planning for First Responders
Myth 1: I can do estate planning any time. I do not need to worry about it right now. Tragedy can strike at any time. Putting your life on the …
Mental Health Considerations in Estate Planning
It is okay to not be okay. Removing the stigma of mental health starts with realizing that many people—about one in five of all US adults–are affected by mental illness. …
Myths and Frequently Asked Questions: Planning with a Joint Pour-Over Trust
Myth #1: Because we are married, we must use a joint trust. When considering a trust-based estate plan, which has benefits such as privacy and probate avoidance, you and your …
Common Trusts: Parenting Beyond the Grave
Parents strive to make their children feel equally valued as reflected in the fact that, when setting up an estate plan, parents typically divide their accounts and property equally among …
Slayer Statutes: Preventing Killers from Profiting from Their Crimes
Most states have laws that prevent someone who has intentionally killed another individual from being able to inherit any property from their victim.[1] In general, these laws are referred to …
Why Is Joseph P. Kennedy Named in My Trust?
Occasionally, a person who has completed an estate plan with their lawyer may be surprised to discover a reference to Joseph P. Kennedy and his descendants buried deep within their …
Myths and Frequently Asked Questions: Standalone Retirement Trust
Myths Myth: Individual retirement accounts (IRAs) are exempt assets in bankruptcy. Fact: The federal Bankruptcy Code protects up to $1 million of assets (adjusted for inflation every three years) held …
Trust and Estate Administration: Whom Should You Bring to the Meetings?
A loved one’s passing is felt by their entire surviving family. But when it comes to carrying out the decedent’s final wishes, not everyone has an equal say. In fact, …
Questions to Ask When Hiring a Fiduciary
A comprehensive estate plan consists of several documents that accomplish three important things. First, they lay out your wishes for the handling of your money and property during life and …
Can a Beneficiary Also Be a Trustee of a Trust?
Clients often naturally choose their children to be beneficiaries of their revocable living trusts. Many clients also wish to name one or more of their children as the trustee of …