Equitable distribution of assets among children is an obvious and correct decision in many situations. Yet, in some families, each child receiving the same inheritance can be inappropriate, deplete the estate’s assets due to ensuing litigation, or cause other family…
In estate planning, there are many different types of trusts; revocable and irrevocable trusts are the most common. While there is some similarity, these two major categories of trusts have different purposes in your estate plan. Both can substitute for…
There can be a lot of anxiety associated with discussing your parents' wills or estate plans with them. Many adult children put off having the “dreaded talk” with parents and are unprepared when an unforeseen event like an accident or…
Ensure your affairs are in order in case of unforeseen circumstances such as an accident, incapacitation, or death by planning for the unexpected. If the COVID-19 pandemic taught us anything, it’s that life is uncertain and that caring for you…
There are many family circumstances that can increase the risk of probate litigation, but there are two main causes: disagreements around handling mentally incapacitated family members or, after death, disagreements regarding the dissolution of estates. High-risk factors that often bring…
It is likely that all of us will at some point be caregivers for a close relative whose health is declining. Depending on the family’s dynamics, determining who should handle the role and what type of care the ailing relative…
There is no doubt that death is a heavy, difficult topic to discuss, but planning for it is a gift you can give to your family. No one wants their family to have to make emergency medical decisions for them…
During the Coronavirus pandemic, we learned that life is unpredictable. Too many aging Americans were infected by COVID-19 in 2020 without legal documents naming trusted loved ones to take care of them while they were incapacitated. Family caregivers are generally…
The last thing on people's minds when they get married for the second time (or more) is losing assets to pay for their new spouse's serious illness. But that could happen. Costs for long-term care have been rising significantly for…
It sounds like something your mother would say, right? And how often do you wish you had listened to her? Nobody really wants to think about the potential for accidents or illness, and it can happen at any age. But…