Many families mistakenly believe that receiving an inherited property is as simple as listening to a reading of the Will and then that property magically belongs to you and you can do whatever you want with it. Sorry to burst that bubble, but a reading of the will is not a real thing – that’s…
Creating a children’s trust does not mean you are creating irresponsible teenagers, driving fancy cars, and vacationing in Caan for the weekend. You may be picturing the old school version of a “trust fund kid”. Don’t worry, I was too. But children’s trusts are not just for the wealthy anymore, it’s a smart estate planning…
What Is Per Stirpes? “Per stirpes” is a legal term (which in Latin means “by branch”) usually included in the Last Will and Testament or beneficiary designations for individual retirement accounts (IRAs). By branch, as in down the family tree branches. If a beneficiary (someone who would receive an inheritance), predeceases (dies before) the testator…
As a soon-to-be parent, you want to make sure that your little human is completely taken care of, from the minute you hear that first cry. The preparations begin months before the arrival of your bundle of joy, and the internet is full of all kinds of advice for parents, checklists, to-dos, tips & tricks,…
What Is a Living Trust? A living trust is an agreement in which a settlor (the person who creates the trust) appoints a trustee, to manages the assets within the trust, on behalf of the beneficiary or beneficiaries named in it. The beneficiary can be you or anyone else you name. It’s called a “living…
If you are like most people, just the word Probate sounds so menacing that it can make your head spin. What is probate? Do you always go through probate when someone dies? Which assets get probated and which ones don’t? Do I need a probate attorney? How much does it cost? How long will it…
