Executor & Trustee Guidelines If you have been named executor of a will or trustee of a trust, these guidelines can help you understand what's expected of you in the process. The executor (sometimes referred to as executrix for females)…
Estate Tax Exemption Amount Goes Up for 2022 As the estate tax exemption amount increases, fewer estates are subject to the federal tax. The federal estate tax exemption is going up again for 2022. The amount is adjusted each year…
Estate Planning for Blended Families – (Hint: It’s not a very Brady world.) Yes, I suppose they fit the broad definition of a blended family, but the story of the “lovely lady” and a “man named Brady” was, of course, simply…
How to Disinherit an Heir So you’ve decided that a family member won’t be getting an inheritance, after all. Maybe you have an ungrateful or irresponsible family member you want to cut out of the will. Or maybe there’s…
Queen Elizabeth II's wealth and will to stay secret after her death The wealth of Queen Elizabeth II, often referred to as one of the wealthiest women in the world, has remained secret and so will her last will after…
What is a Pour-Over Will? Living trusts can help you avoid probate, but can be tricky to fund, that’s why a pour-over will is a good safety device to protect intended beneficiaries. Find out more about pour-over wills, how they…
Importance of Funding Your Trust and What Can Happen if You Fail to Do So Funding a revocable trust is an important aspect of creating the trust and it being valid in the future. If the grantor fails to complete…
Estate Planning for Blended Families and Second Marriages Many people don’t get serious about estate planning until they are well into middle age. By then, they may be part of a blended family: they are married for a second (or…
Prepare a Digital Estate Plan for Future Caregivers How to provide the information they’ll need to manage your online data My mother kept a little black book. Not the fun kind filled with suitors’ phone numbers; rather, a binder that…
What Is a Life Estate and How Does It Work? If you own a home, passing that property on to someone else — whether it’s a spouse, your children or someone else — requires planning ahead. That’s where a life…