Suppose you've welcomed a little one into your world, and your hearts are bursting with joy. This exciting time can also be an excellent moment to consider estate planning. While it might not be the most glamorous task on your parenthood to-do list, creating an estate...
Building An Estate Plan That Is Right For You
Estate Planning
What happens if I die without a will?
A will is a set of instructions that you leave behind stating what you want to do with your assets after you pass away. While many people find it helpful to create a will or estate plan, some people die without a will, which is like leaving your things in your house...
Why someone with a trust may need a pour-over will as well
One of the most important steps when creating a trust is properly funding it. People often transfer some of their most valuable resources into a trust. They may do so as they prepare for retirement or even earlier in life to protect their assets from lawsuits and...
What are reciprocal (mirror) wills?
If you and your spouse have been married for decades, your assets are likely largely or entirely combined. Your estate planning needs may seem simple. You just want whomever outlives the other to have all of your assets. When you’re both gone, you want your adult...
3 common ways to craft an estate plan that honors your faith
Those who have strong religious beliefs often like to integrate their faith into many aspects of their life. For example, those who regularly attend church services often tithe or make contributions to their congregation and volunteer for various faith-related causes....
Is it fair to leave your heirs unequal bequests?
Ask any parent with more than one child and they’ll probably tell you that “fair” and “equal” are far from the same thing. One child’s needs don’t necessarily match the needs of the other child. That’s a hard reality to navigate when the kids are young – but what do...
Using your estate plan to arrange the funeral you want
Most of us spend weeks (or months) planning for milestone life events like our wedding, a major anniversary or a holiday party. But the one event we're all guaranteed to experience -- our funeral -- often goes unplanned until after we pass away. You might not have...
Just became a parent? Time to do estate planning.
You may never have really thought about estate planning before in your life. You know that you will need to make a plan at some point, but it’s something you figure you can address later on. It feels like it’s much too early in life to consider taking these steps....
Do you want to leave an anatomical gift after your death?
Your legacy when you die may involve many different considerations. Some people want to support their children and grandchildren, while others want to give money to charitable organizations. Maybe you don't have many financial resources to pass on to others, or...
3 times adding a trust to your estate can protect your legacy
The details of an estate plan should be a reflection of someone's unique circumstances. No two people will need the exact same solutions when planning to protect themselves as they age and establish their legacy when they die. For some people, a simple will is all...