Estates

Reviewing a trust document often brings confusion when the terms do not match the known values or history of the person who created it. You might notice that the instructions suddenly favor a stranger or exclude a long-term beneficiary without explanation. It is...

You are allowed to divide your assets any way you want when you draft your estate plan. For example, if you have three adult children who are your primary beneficiaries, you could give each of them one-third of your assets, which may be what they expect. However, you...

Often, a will reading is straightforward, with no surprises. The decedent left all of their assets to their spouse or divided them evenly among their children. However, the validity of the will is sometimes questioned, especially when there are unexpected changes or...

When a loved one is placed under guardianship, it can bring relief and concern. While guardianship can protect someone who can’t make decisions for themselves, it may also raise questions about whether the arrangement truly reflects that person’s best interests. ...

It’s fairly clear that everyone will eventually need an estate plan. Wealthy individuals may have significant assets to pass down, whether these are financial or tangible. But even those who don’t necessarily have significant wealth still need to pass down family...

In some cases, parents leave completely equal bequests to their children in their estate plan. For instance, a parent leaves $100,000 to each child and gives them all equal ownership in the family home. They can decide what they want to do with it from there. But in...

Adult children often inherit their parents’ assets. If someone dies intestate (without a will), the division of assets is done according to state law. If the person has an estate plan, that plan will generally be followed, and the estate administrator will divide the...

While trusts provide several benefits unavailable through a will alone, they are not immune to disputes that sometimes lead to litigation. Unfortunately, trust disputes can be emotionally burdensome for all involved. Knowing the common issues that can ignite a dispute...

If you’re the parent of a young adult, it’s smart to talk to them about the value of a prenuptial agreement before they’re considering marriage. If you wait until they’ve found “the one,” bringing up this topic can make it appear as though you don’t believe in the...

No-contest clauses are designed to prevent estate disputes. While the wording may vary from one will or trust to another, they all essentially set up the same “carrot-and-stick” approach by telling beneficiaries that they cannot challenge the will without losing...