Do you want to leave a legacy for your family? Besides passing along prized heirlooms, you can arrange a long-lasting transfer of wealth through multiple generations by using a dynasty trust. Not only can such a trust avoid...more
Asset protection is about preserving your hard-earned wealth in the face of unreasonable creditors’ claims, frivolous lawsuits or financial predators. It’s not about evading legitimate debts, hiding assets or defrauding...more
Estate planning has a language of its own. While you may be familiar with common terms such as a will, a trust or an executor, you may not be as certain about others. For quick reference, here’s a glossary of terms you’re...more
Creating and adhering to an estate plan is no simple task. Generally, the end goal of estate planning is to divide up and transfer assets to loved ones at a minimum or zero tax cost. Of course, a will is a good starting...more
Your will is designed to provide for the disposition of your possessions and tie up any loose ends in your estate. To accomplish these goals, you may include specific bequests to named beneficiaries. For example, you might...more
Estate planning can be complicated enough when you don’t have a spouse. But things can get even trickier for married couples. Although you and your spouse may have agreed on most major issues in the past — such as child...more
If your estate has to be probated, in a perfect world everything will go without a hitch and the assets are distributed to beneficiaries in a timely manner. Everyone is satisfied with their inheritance and family harmony is...more
Executing a codicil may be the answer -
For most people, the first step in estate planning is to create a legally enforceable will. If you already have a will in place, consider yourself ahead of the game, but you’re far...more