Family members or professional caregivers can offer your elderly parent safety and companionship while you focus on raising your children. But, unfortunately, those you trust with your parent's well-being may be a problem rather than a solution. When you suspect elder...
Once you have finalized your divorce, you need to update your estate plan to reflect your new situation. However sick of legal paperwork you are, it is best to get it done straight away. Here are some of the things you need to look at: What do I still own? Draw up a...
As you complete your estate plan, a thorny issue sometimes arises. One or more of your potential beneficiaries has proven to be ill-equipped at money management. This presents a major dilemma for those trying to make prudent estate planning decisions. You don’t want...
There is a persistent myth that people don’t need to think about estate planning until they are at retirement age or even past it. Actually, you can embark upon estate planning much earlier in your life if you wish. You never know when you might be unable to...
Estate planning isn’t just about directing what happens with your assets after you die. It’s also about protecting your future. One important part of any estate plan is a health care directive. Having a health care directive in place is one of the best things you can...
Naming a personal representative is often an important part of creating an estate plan. Your deceased loved one likely chose someone whom they trusted for that position. If they didn't name someone, then the court will appoint a representative for the estate. Most of...
Your estate is made up of your assets, property and money … and it is alive. Think of it like a house plant. Once acquired and placed in that perfect spot in the home, you need to provide it with some care to keep it from drying up. So is your estate plan. Once you...
Your estate plan ensures the distribution of your estate according to your wishes after your death. It also provides direction for your care in the event of your incapacitation. An estate plan includes more than a will. It includes several documents that you should...
A detailed estate plan doesn't just protect the people you love by ensuring they inherit your assets. It also helps protect you from poverty in your final years of life. Although you may not have worried much about your retirement when you first drafted a last will,...
Trusts provide a way for people to pass assets down to their heirs without having to worry about them going through the probate process. There are many different types of trusts, so it’s imperative that you choose the one that suits the circumstances. One thing that...
