Will – a written document specifying a person’s wishes concerning his or her property distribution upon his or her death. In order to be enforced by a court of law, […]
Continue reading…How to Leave Gifts to Step-Children
Today, blended families have become increasingly common, and many individuals have step-children, that is, children of a spouse or partner. In situations where step-children have not been legally adopted, however, they […]
Continue reading…Top Five Estate Planning Mistakes
In spite of the vast amount of financial information that is currently available in the media and via the internet, many people either do not understand estate planning or underestimate […]
Continue reading…Refusing a Bequest
Most people develop an estate plan as a way to transfer wealth, property and their legacies on to loved ones upon their passing. This transfer, however, isn’t always as seamless […]
Continue reading…Common Types of Will Contests
The most basic estate planning tool is a will which establishes how an individual’s property will be distributed and names beneficiaries to receive those assets. Unfortunately, there are circumstances when […]
Continue reading…What is an Estate Tax?
While the terms “estate tax” and “inheritance tax” are often used interchangeably, they are not synonymous. Let’s try to clarify the difference. Estate Tax Estate tax is based on the […]
Continue reading…Responsibilities and Obligations of the Executor/ Administrator
When a person dies with a will in place, an executor is named as the responsible individual for winding down the decedent’s affairs. In situations in which a will has […]
Continue reading…The Rule against Perpetuities
The law allows a person preparing a will to have almost complete control over his or her assets after the testator passes on, but there are limits to such power. […]
Continue reading…The Revocable Living Trust
There are many benefits to a revocable living trust that are not available in a will. An individual can choose to have one or both, and an attorney can best […]
Continue reading…How to calculate estate tax
In order to predict how much your estate will have to pay in taxes, one must first determine the value of the estate. To determine this, many assets might have […]
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