By now, you’ve probably been contributing to your IRA for many years. It’s the nest egg that is going to get you through the best years of your life. But there’s one question you need to ask yourself: is my IRA included in my estate? We don’t want to think …
Read MoreFamily Business Succession Planning: How to Ensure a Successful Transfer
When you start a family business, the dream is to be able to pass it on to your kids. You want to give them something to be proud of, something that will support them and their families and keep the family legacy alive for generations. Family business succession planning is …
Read MoreEstate Planning Mistake: Leaving Behind a Messy Estate
Organization is key when estate planning. One commonsense estate planning mistake that many people make is leaving behind a messy estate. Think of all of the things that a person accumulates throughout a lifetime. When we pass away, our heirs must sort through those things and decide what to do …
Read MoreTop 4 Reasons to Avoid Probate
It’s impossible to emphasize how important it is to avoid probate. While some people might think that having a will is enough, the truth is that it simply isn’t. Take this woman’s story, for example. Elaine was married to Rick for ten years and had two children with him. Because …
Read MoreEstate Trust: How to Prevent Financial Abuse
Can you imagine a trusted friend, or even one of your children, taking advantage of your finances as you age? Or, alternatively, does the thought of someone stealing from your aging mother or father sound far-fetched? Sadly, in the estate and trust profession, elder financial abuse is more common than …
Read MoreHow Do You Choose an Executor of a Will?
If you’ve got a will, you’ll need to appoint an executor. Choosing an executor of a will is one of the most important estate planning decisions that you’ll have to make, so it’s best to choose wisely. The right person for the job will not only be a person you …
Read MoreWill a Partnership Agreement Give Me a New Partner? Some Scenarios
The rules for partnerships vary from one organization to the next, largely due to whether a partnership agreement exists. Under the existing regulations, if your partnership does not have a written, signed agreement, the partnership will dissolve if one of the partners dies. If that partner has left his share …
Read MoreWhat Does an Estate Planning Attorney Do? Plan for the Future
You’ve probably heard a lot about creating a will and an estate plan. But perhaps you’re not quite sure what exactly an estate planning attorney can do for you. You might think planning starts and stops with drafting a last will and testament, but the truth is, an attorney in …
Read MoreLiving Will: Planning Now Could Spare Your Family Some Grief
My name is Alejandra Moreno from Casal and Moreno, and I’m an estate planning, guardianship, and probate attorney, and as part of my estate planning practice, I also focus on living will and other end of life matters. We had a couple. The husband did everything for his wife. He …
Read MoreCan My Business Survive without Me? Not Without a Business Succession Plan
The importance of a business succession plan: You’ve worked practically nonstop since starting your business to get to where you are today. The sacrifices you’ve made—sacrifices to your social life, mental well-being, and most likely your physical health—have been difficult, but they were totally worth it, right? If given a …
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