Each person accumulates a wealth of knowledge, experiences, and values throughout the course of their life. Regardless of whether you are financially wealthy, you have a great deal to share with your loved ones. An ethical will, sometimes also called a legacy
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Estate planning is not just about what happens to your stuff when you die. It is about coordinating all aspects of your life so (i) you can be taken care of during times when you are unable to care for yourself, and
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You’ve worked hard and made smart choices to set your family up for long-term success. As you begin the estate planning process, however, the impact of estate taxes becomes too obvious to ignore. Imposed upon the overall value of an estate at
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For many of us, there’s nothing more heart-filling than the sight of a Christmas tree, glowing and luminous, with piles of colored gifts below. It takes us back to all of those happy holiday memories: the house full of family and fun,
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The holidays can be such a joyful time, a time of traditions and family: the annual neighborhood ugly sweater party; the yearly family photo by the fireplace, children growing each year; the squeals of grandchildren as they set out cookies for Santa
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Estate planning is essential to ensuring a person’s assets are dispersed efficiently and as fairly as possible when they pass. While many believe they can save time and money by taking a DIY approach to estate planning, such a choice can ultimately
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November is National Adoption Month, which is aimed at raising awareness about adoption and about the children who need permanent, loving homes. Thousands of children are adopted each year, bringing much joy to their adoptive families. If you are in the process
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Estate planning can be a very difficult process. While it’s not brain surgery, making the decision to move forward with planning requires us to face the fact that we will not live forever. This thought can stop many people right in their
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Summer is over. The kids are back in school, and it’s time to take a deep breath and spend some time taking care of yourself before the holidays arrive. Everyone needs to take steps to relax and minimize the effects of life’s
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It’s impossible to predict the future. While we might not have a reliable crystal ball to gaze into, it is possible to make informed estimations about what the next decade of estate planning might hold. While some principles are unlikely to change
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Here’s a scary fact for you this Halloween: 60 percent of Americans don’t have any kind of will or estate plan in place. Many simply don’t know they need to plan ahead, while others don’t believe it to be necessary. It’s often
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In 2008, Congress recognized the need for the public to understand the importance and benefits of estate planning by passing House Resolution 1499, which designated the third week of October as National Estate Planning Awareness Week. Nevertheless, according to a 2019 survey
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Hiring an estate planner is an important decision as you are seeking advice on how to protect your loved ones once you are gone. For this reason, it is critical to hire an attorney with good knowledge of estate planning and how
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No one enjoys thinking about their own funeral, but making those arrangements in advance yourself may be one of the most thoughtful acts you can do for your loved ones. More and more people are including funeral planning as part of their
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You may have heard of a revocable living trust (RLT), which is a commonly used estate planning solution. But what exactly are they, who is affected by them, how can they be changed, and what do they accomplish? What Are They? Trusts,
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For each season, there is planning that you must do on a farm. In order to be successful, the planning must be done thoughtfully and in advance. Your life is no different. To properly plan for the next season in your life
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Have you considered what will happen to your vehicle when you pass away? In 2019, it is projected that there will be 281.3 million registered vehicles in the United States. Your vehicle is a valuable asset—as well as a potential source
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The kids are back to school. Homerooms chosen, emergency contact forms completed, lockers set up and pencils sharpened just-so. But have you done your estate plan homework? Many people review their estate plan at a regular frequency, often when they review their
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In the golden age of the smartphone, you’re never far from a camera. This has made the sharing of videos and photos easier than ever before. Easy access to a quality camera has led many people to wonder: can I make a
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Talking to Your Parents About Estate Planning from a Distance People say that nothing is guaranteed except for death and taxes. Avoiding talking about these subjects is a common occurrence, but failure to plan for one’s death can create serious stress for
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It’s that time of year again: tax season. No one enjoys doing their taxes, and that is likely why many of us leave this tedious task to the last…possible…moment. As Tax Day approaches, millions of Americans are likely scrambling to track down
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Non-traditional families have a unique set of challenges when it comes to estate planning. Since single parents, blended families, unmarried partners, and other non-traditional families do not have many of the automatic protections that the law provides married couples, these families must
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After a Living Trust is established as part of someone’s estate plan, the person setting up the Trust (the “Trustor”) usually serves as initial “Trustee”. A Trustee is in charge of the administration of the Trust and the handling of the Trust
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For decades the U. S. Department of Veterans Affairs has provided a benefit for veterans or their surviving spouses that can be used to pay for home care, assisted living, and for a nursing home costs. Most veterans did not know this
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Estate planning is an important task that everyone should undertake as it helps to protect your family and loved one’s financial future. But estate planning can do much more than focus on finances, it can also provide for care of those you
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