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Our society highly values private property rights and the freedom to contract. As a result, the legal system gives significant deference to an individual’s choices regarding the disposition of their estate. Provided a will or trust was executed according to law, courts are very reluctant to declare it invalid. One exception is in cases of […]

In my opinion, a revocable living trust is the best estate planning tool available to avoid probate, maintain the privacy of your affairs and provide for incapacity or disability. However, for some people, a revocable living trust may not be the right fit. In these instances, it makes sense to consider a transfer-on-death deed, which […]

I recently read an article on Forbes.com discussing Americans’ attitudes regarding long-term care insurance. Unsurprisingly, most were price sensitive and hesitant to use their home equity as an alternative method of financing their care. That’s why it makes sense to consider planning for the possibility of long-term care in your estate plan. Through the use […]

Last month, President Obama hosted the White House Conference on Aging. The gathering of elder care advocates and experts has been held every decade since the 1960s. Now, the federal government has launched a website to serve as a one-stop shop for older Americans seeking resources on aging. The website covers everything from filing for […]

Maybe you want to provide for yearly family vacations. Or perhaps you’d like to help with the cost of college education for your grandchildren. Whatever the reason, we instinctively seek to ensure that the next generation has it just a little bit better than we did. But how safe is your children’s inheritance? The answer […]

Anyone who knows me is aware of my love for Mad Men, the critically-acclaimed AMC drama which concluded its run in May. Like most fans of the show, I was sad to see it end. Apart from its entertainment value, Mad Men tackled serious subjects such as identity, race relations and sexism. Reflecting on the […]

We’ve all likely heard of probate. However, most of us probably aren’t aware of the intricacies involved in the court-supervised process for distributing the property of a deceased person. Keeping that in mind, here are five little-known facts about probate. It is avoidable. You can prevent your estate from ending up in probate court by […]

So, you decided to do estate planning. Congratulations! You are doing the right thing to protect your loved ones if something happens to you. However, that’s just the first step. It’s critical that your documents be set up correctly in order to avoid future problems. With that in mind, let’s take a look The Top […]

Whether you have $20 million or just own a modest home and small bank account, everyone should have an estate plan. Wills, trusts, durable powers of attorney and medical directives protect your loved ones, ensure that your wishes are followed and ease the burden on the people to whom your assets pass down. Without these […]

Earlier this summer, I wrote about the importance of keeping your estate plan up to date. How do you know if your estate plan is up to date? In making this determination, there are several things you should think about. Here are a few of the key indicators. First, do you have a will or […]