The Perils of Joint Property
People often set up bank accounts or real estate so that they own it jointly with a spouse or other family member. The appeal of joint tenancy is that when one owner dies, [...]
Can You Rely on State Law to Leave Everything to Your Spouse and Kids?
Many people think that if they die while they are married, everything they own automatically goes to their spouse or children. They are thinking of state rules that apply if someone dies without [...]
Life Insurance and Estate Planning: Protecting Your Beneficiaries’ Interests
One misconception people have about life insurance is that naming beneficiaries is all you have to do to ensure the benefits of life insurance will be available for a surviving spouse, children, or [...]
Build an Estate Plan that Includes Asset Protection
Much of estate planning has to do with the way a person’s assets will be distributed upon their death. But that’s only the tip of the iceberg. From smart incapacity planning to diligent [...]
How Can Your Estate Plan Help a Loved One Who Struggles with Addiction
According to the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse, substance addiction or abuse impacts as many as one in seven Americans. Because of its prevalence, navigating a loved one’s addiction is actually [...]
What To Do When a Disability Throws Your Estate Plan A Curve Ball
Despite thoughtful effort and a concerted strategy, you cannot prepare for every emergency. A car accident, sudden illness, workplace injury or chronic medical condition can force you to re-evaluate the core assumptions you [...]