The death of a loved one can cause various reactions among loved ones. Tensions can often be high, and people frequently seek ways to vent their frustrations. Arguments over a final estate are just one way that conflicts can manifest themselves. Fortunately, there...
Estate Planning
How do you divide heirloom jewelry in an estate?
You’ve got a few lovely pieces of jewelry in your family -- some of which you purchased yourself and some of which you inherited. As you start to think ahead to your own estate plan, you’re concerned about how to divide the items fairly among your own heirs. Here are...
Moving to a new state? It’s time to update your plans
People who have estate plans periodically review these documents after going through significant life changes like marriage, divorce or getting kids. But what about when you move to a new state? Every state has unique laws regarding estate planning documents like...
Is an electronic last will a sign of estate planning fraud?
Someone you love recently died, and that would be hard enough to handle on its own. However, you have started to have serious doubts about the validity of their estate plan. If you and the rest of your family felt surprised to learn that a loved one had left behind an...
Major life events that should trigger an update on your estate plan
If you already have an estate plan in place, then you have started off on the right footing. However, an estate plan is not something you create, lock up in some safe deposit box and forget about it. On the contrary, it is recommended that you review and revise it...
Do you really need a no-contest clause in your Seattle will?
Those who engage in estate planning nearly always do so with their loved ones in mind. They want to minimize financial burdens for their families, and, in many cases, they also want to prevent inheritance disputes from arising. To prevent estate litigation involving...
Passing the family home on to your heirs? You can do that with an estate plan
If you would like to leave your home to a loved one after you pass away, one of the options you have is adding your home to your estate plan and placing it into a trust. There are two main kinds of trusts that you can use to pass on your home, a revocable trust and a...
Estate planning for art collectors
There are no limits to what people collect throughout their lives, but art collectors are in a distinct category. Their collections may hold both sentimental and great investment value. Adding your art collection to your estate plans is essential if you want your...
Use these tips to keep track of assets and prevent theft
When someone you love is near death or has passed away, the last thing you want to deal with is litigation. However, you’ve started noticing that objects that were once in their home aren’t there when you visit. Items that should be split among the heirs seem to be...
What can happen when administrators don’t play fair with their estate duties
Most families assume it could never happen to them, but estrangement and estate battles are all too common when the administrator of an estate is playing fast and loose with the rules that govern a decedent’s estate. If you are not the administrator, it may be...