If your portfolio includes highly appreciated assets like stocks, bonds or an investment property, you may want to consider creating a charitable remainder trust. This type of trust allows you to make a substantial tax-exempt donation to a charity or charities while...
Wills and estate plans exist to direct the division of someone's assets after they die. While planning ahead is great, it is also good practice to update your will or estate plan every few years or whenever you experience a significant life event. Here are a few...
How much do you know about your upcoming role as executor? If you do not have experience with the administration of an estate, you may feel overwhelmed. Fortunately, there are steps to take that will keep your tasks as executor running smoothly. One of those is...
Second marriages bring years of experience to a new relationship. Along with this, there are often children that become siblings in a new blended home. How can you ensure your estate plan covers them all fairly? Keeping the blended family in mind may force you to take...
Ideally, your property and possessions get distributed among your beneficiaries according to your wishes when you pass away. For this to happen smoothly, a solid estate plan should be in place. Even when people try to plan ahead, mistakes often lead to headaches for...
Private family foundations are not reserved for billionaires, although we most often hear about them in connection with famous people. You and various members of your family may be considering establishing this kind of foundation in order to further certain goals that...
A Limited Liability Company (LLC) is an easily created corporate structure with many uses. It might be right for an individual looking to pass on a vacation property to their family. When an inherited piece of property is especially desirable, using an LLC to allow...
You worked hard to be able to leave a legacy behind for those you hold dear, but, depending on how large your estate is, your loved ones may stand to lose a sizable portion of it to estate taxes. In some cases, you may be able to reduce or even eliminate your estate...
Having a friend or relative with a disability may complicate your estate planning process. After all, if you give cash or other assets to your loved one, you may inadvertently make him or her ineligible for Supplemental Security Income, Medicaid and other means-tested...
If you have a child with special needs, you may worry about his or her care after your death. While you may use your estate plan to leave assets to your son or daughter, doing so may render him or her ineligible for vital needs-based government benefits. To ensure...
