Whether you are putting together your own Will or stand to receive assets left to you by someone else, you may wonder what the actual difference is between a beneficiary and an heir. Some people may use the terms interchangeably, however, heirs and beneficiaries are not the same thing. Not all heirs are beneficiaries, and…
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…
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…
What Is a Green Burial? Cemeteries, burial grounds, and preserves can be considered green if they meet certain criteria: Caring for the dead with a minimal environmental impact Contributing to the conservation of natural resources Reduction of carbon emissions Protection of worker health Restoration and/or preservation of the habitat Use of non-toxic and biodegradable materials,…
FALSE FACTS FRIDAY Issue 10: When A Loved One Dies, I Will Be Invited to a Reading of the Will I consider myself an intelligent person with a good education, but I do not spend my days working in a hospital. So admittedly, what I “know” about hospitals, I learned by watching ER and Grey’s…
