Estate Planning

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...

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...

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...

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...

You may think that the only people who should care about estate planning are the lucky few with six- or seven-digit incomes, a lavish mansion in an exclusive suburb and a flashy sports car or two in the driveway. In fact, estate planning is a sound idea for anyone who...

You’ve worked hard to build your wealth, and you’d like to keep it in your family after you’re gone. Of course, you also want to minimize the estate taxes owed by your loved ones. One means of doing that is through a generation-skipping trust (GST). Let’s look at what...

When people start getting older, sometimes they need to rely on others. Whom they rely on is just as important as how those people help them. There have been many times when the elderly have relied on the wrong people, and their families found out too late. They may...

Many people move out to the Pacific Northwest looking for a change in pace to advance their careers or retire. While many new residents plan for many things, revisiting their estate plan that they originally drafted in another state usually isn't one of them --...

A contest over the contents of someone's will can happen for many reasons -- but some family situations are actually more likely to result in disputes than others. You may find it interesting to learn what motivates these kinds of family disputes after a loved one's...

Creating a trust as part of your estate plan can be a great decision. When properly structured and funded, a trust can protect your assets from creditors, help you qualify for government benefits as you age and reduce the likelihood of people challenging your legacy...