Believe it or not, in the U.S. it is not easy to disinherit your spouse. But the same is not true for other family members – generally, you can use your estate plan to disinherit your brothers and sisters, your nieces and nephews, or even your very own children and grandchildren.
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When Should You Use a Stay Bonus Agreement?
Hands dropping coins
Do you have certain key employees who help make your family business a success? Keeping those employees may be essential to a successful transition of ownership and management to your children or another new owner when you retire or pass away. A “stay bonus” (also Continue reading
Kids Going Away To College? Why You Should Include Estate Planning in the Preparation
You may have been running around for weeks, getting your new college student off to school. It’s exhilarating, and your heart likely is bursting at the seams. You’re probably prouder than words can express, but you’re also a little afraid, too. How can you make sure your kid is going Continue reading
SPECIAL NEEDS TRUSTS: YOUR QUESTIONS, ANSWERED
“What are Special Needs Trusts (SNT)?”
Firstly, a trust is created when property (real estate, finances, tangible items) is managed by a person for another person’s benefit. The person managing the property is called the “trustee.” The person whose benefit it is for is called the Continue reading
Can I Make Estate Plans Without My Spouse?
The average American family has changed a great deal over the last few decades. The assumption that a couple will share finances, tax obligations, and a last name is one that does not necessarily apply in the 21st century. There are more options than ever before to keep your finances, Continue reading
Executing “Financial Powers of Attorney”: Why It’ll Be The Best Decision You’ll Make
The wealth, property, and investments we accrue over a lifetime are often significant. While you have carefully managed your finances through the years, there may eventually come a time when you cannot handle such decisions. To plan for the likelihood that you are unable to manage Continue reading
Your 2018 Taxes – Get Started Now
While the end of the year is not quite here yet (but rapidly approaching), now is an opportune time to take a moment and start your year-end tax planning for 2018. This is particularly necessary this tax year because of the changes to the tax law that became effective in 2018. As Continue reading
Retirement Planning for Business Owners
For many employees, saving for retirement is usually a matter of simply participating in their employer’s 401(k) plan and perhaps opening an IRA for some extra savings.
But, when you’re the owner of a business, planning for retirement requires proactivity and strategy. It’s not just Continue reading
WHY ONLINE, “COOKIE-CUTTER” OR “CUT-AND-PASTE” ESTATE PLANNING DOCUMENTS ARE A REALLY BAD IDEA
Penny Wise and Pound Foolish
In all but the simplest scenarios, do-it-yourself estate planning is risky and can become a costly substitute for comprehensive in-person planning with a professional legal advisor. Typically, these online programs and services have significant limitations Continue reading
How You Can Build an Estate Plan that Includes Asset Protection
Much of estate planning has to do with the way a person’s assets will be distributed upon their death. But that’s only the tip of the iceberg. From smart incapacity planning to diligent probate avoidance, there is a lot that goes into crafting a comprehensive estate plan. One important Continue reading