To You Straight
One of the central duties of an estate plan is providing instructions about who is going to get your assets when you die. Some people handle this through their will, but that’s not the only option that you have. When you use your will to distribute assets, your...
Drafting an estate plan can be emotional, as you have to face the reality of mortality or the possibility of incapacitation. Some people also get emotional when they believe they don't have enough assets to pass on to their loved ones, and others are overwhelmed by...
The digital age has changed every area of life, and estate planning is no exception. Digital assets can be high in value and they can also be sentimental. Nonetheless, many people forget to incorporate digital assets into their estate plan. This means that they can...
Gifting loved ones your assets to avoid the hassle of estate planning seems like a straightforward solution. However, relying on this approach alone can create more problems than it solves, potentially leading to unintended complications. Here’s why gifting your...
A will is arguably the most basic estate planning document, and it is often the first instrument people create when thinking about their long-term legacies. Becoming a parent can be a profound incentive to think about what happens after someone dies. Parents generally...
People generally don't want to fight over a loved one's legacy after they die. Many heirs and beneficiaries accept disappointing terms with good grace because they don't want to cause family conflict. They tell themselves their loved one may have made last-minute...
Undue influence occurs when someone exerts excessive pressure or persuasion on the person who made the will (the testator) to manipulate the terms of the will, compromising the testator’s ability to make free and independent decisions. If you believe your loved one’s...
As you get your estate plan together, you may find that you’re concerned about the way one of your beneficiaries uses their money. Maybe this person is one of your adult children, so you’ve tried to teach them healthy spending habits, but they just view money much...
For young parents, protecting their children’s well-being and securing their future, even when life takes unexpected turns, is in their every thought. Yet, statistics reveal that about 68% of Americans do not have a valid will or any estate plan. While estate planning...
Advances in Assistive Reproductive Technology (ART) have given many couples the option to freeze their embryos for future use. But what if one or both intended parents pass away? What happens to the unused genetic material, and who decides what to do with them? Can...