If you are like the majority of people in America, you have done no estate planning. This means you do not have a signed will. Just because you do not have a signed will, does not mean you do not …
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Simplify Your Life
Preparing for your estate plan can be a lot of work. Not only do you have to decide who is going to do what when, you have to organize your affairs, so they can. To properly prepare your estate plan, …
Essential Estate Planning Documents
It has been a couple of years since I have discussed estate planning basics. Today’s column will be a refresher course. You may think of estate planning as only death planning. However, estate planning also includes lifetime planning in the …
How To Select an Estate Planning Attorney
Finding the right attorney to plan your estate can be a significant challenge. It may be the first contact that you will ever have with an attorney. What qualities should you look for in an estate planning attorney? Do not …
Planning for Second Marriages Can be Tricky
You may have been widowed or divorced, so you are now in a second or even third marriage. You and your spouse both came to the marriage with your own separate property. However, you also may have property that you …
Sep Savvy Education Trusts
You are thinking about leaving something to the grandkids when you are gone. Or, you don’t have any children of your own and want to leave an inheritance to your nieces and nephews or great nieces and great nephews. However, …
Don’t Forget to Update Your Estate Plan
You completed your estate plan years ago when the kids were little. You even named a guardian for them in the event you could not care for them. The kids are now in their 40s and have children of their …
Estate Planning With No Kids
Recently, I spent a few days on a boat in Lake Huron with a friend of mine who has no children. It got me thinking. I have never written a column specifically directed at the issues that may be encountered …
Jul Savvy Powers of Appointment Changing Irrevocable Trusts
You have a revocable living trust. You can change it, amend it or revoke it while you are alive and well. So long as you are not mentally disabled, you can do what you want with your trust. However, as …
Importance of Funding Your Trust
You brought home your brand new trust. It sure looks great. It may be in a shiny new binder with tabs and everything. But how do you know your trust is going to work? And you got your trust at …