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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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. […]

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 […]

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 […]

Inheritance laws involve legal rights to property after a death and such laws differ from state-to-state.   Heirs usually consist of close family members and exclude estranged relatives.  Depending on the […]