A spousal lifetime access trust (SLAT) is a trust created by one spouse (trustmaker spouse) for the benefit of the other (beneficiary spouse). This estate planning tool can be used to retain as much control over your property and assets as possible while not paying any more taxes than you have to. Spousal […]
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Cohabitation without marriage is becoming more common in the U.S. Buying a home with your partner may make financial sense, but it can come with some legal complications. While most couples do not go into a relationship planning for when it will end, it can happen, and sharing everything may lead to some unintended consequences. […]
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Choosing a guardian for your minor children is stressful for any parent. Not being around to usher your child safely into adulthood is an unthinkable option. Naming a guardian is one of the most important decisions you will make as a parent. What should you do if your first choice is not a U.S. citizen? While […]
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Your estate plan is a living document. It responds to changes in your life, such as marriages, divorces, births, and deaths. One way to ensure that your estate planning documents remain current is to incorporate milestones. These statements keep your estate plan flexible and are one way to hedge against an unpredictable future. Adding these […]
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Suppose you have spent your whole life building your wealth. You wanted to provide for your loved ones long-term, well after you were gone. But what if one of your children is a little irresponsible? Imagine a situation where one of your children has access to their inheritance and blows the first distribution in no […]
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No one wants to believe their family member would contest their estate plan by alleging they weren’t competent to write it. This is more likely when you disinherit someone who ordinarily would have received money and property from you or if you have been diagnosed with a mental condition that is associated with deteriorating mental […]
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Typically, a trustmaker establishes a trust to benefit their loved ones, a charitable organization, or some other third party. The money and property in the trust are distributed upon the trustmaker’s death according to the trust instructions. In some cases, a trustmaker, especially a public figure who values privacy, will want to establish a trust […]
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Imagine you have been named the executor for your grandmother’s Last Will and Testament. She names you and several of your cousins as her beneficiaries. You happily accepted this role, but you have a problem. You haven’t talked to two of your cousins in over a decade. You have no idea how to reach them. […]
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If you haven’t designated beneficiaries or set up pay-on-death or transfer-on-death instructions for your accounts or property you own in your name only, your family may have to go through the probate process in order to claim their inheritance when you pass away. Writing a Last Will and Testament is an excellent start to developing […]
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In a perfect world, transferring money, property, and legacies from one generation to the next would be seamless. The paperwork and other concerns associated with the death of a loved one would pose minimal stress and family and loved ones could focus instead on the grieving process and remember their deceased loved one in peace. […]
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