Estate Planning 101: The Basics

In preparation for the upcoming tax season, you may have already begun gathering some paperwork, like you property tax bill, year end mortgage statement, or final pay stubs.. Although filing your income taxes is different than putting your affairs in order, you’re...

Could money I lent to my family be an asset?

Many children and grandchildren are skipping the traditional bank and obtaining loans from parents or grandparents. Unfortunately, we have all heard stories of families torn apart because of disagreements over money. So, what can you do to make sure your intra-family...

What is a Spendthrift Trust? Why is it great for my estate plan?

There are many tools that can be used when putting together your estate plan. One such tool is a trust. A trust is a fiduciary arrangement, established by a grantor or trustmaker, which gives a third party (known as a trustee) the authority to manage assets on behalf...

Debt After Death: Why You Should Think About It When Estate Planning

If you carry debt, do not assume that your death or incapacity will make it automatically disappear. To the contrary, the money you owe may eat away at the assets you were planning to leave to your heirs or — if you owe a large amount of money — may wipe...