Reading Time: 5 minutesDrawing up a trust is an area where experience counts, but that doesn’t mean you need to go to a large national law firm. On the contrary, many large firms have dropped this practice, and some of the savviest trusts and estates attorneys have their own firms or practice in small and moderate-size law firms.
Reading Time: < 1 minuteNow that you’ve learned all about your options, and have started thinking about how you want to handle your estate, it’s important to take action. There are three main ways to get started:
Reading Time: 8 minutesWe’ve all watched that scene in a movie in which the family gathers around to hear the reading of a loved one’s last will and testament. The document is intoned, everyone listens solemnly, and we assume everything’s taken care of. So it’s no wonder that most Americans write a will to indicate their wishes regarding inheritance and leave it at that.
Reading Time: 4 minutesWhen most people think about estate planning, the first type of document that probably comes to mind is a will—and for good reason. Wills are generally the centerpiece of an estate plan, allowing people to direct how their property should be divided and who should get it after they die.
Reading Time: 4 minutesIf you haven’t done any estate planning—i.e. finalizing legal documents to manage and pass on property and set out wishes for end-of-life matters—it should be on your list of priorities. But before you call an attorney or start drafting documents on your own, it’s important first to understand some of the basic arrangements involved in estate planning, and the protections and assurances they can provide.
Reading Time: 2 minutesEvery adult needs an estate plan, regardless of how wealthy or modest their assets are. Whether you want to ensure your children have a guardian named, your parents have their estate planned, or your college student has a power of attorney in place so you more easily address their medical or financial matters, give the gift that will provide the most meaning for your family when tragedy occurs.