Estate Planning Checklist to Put Affairs in Order
An estate plan can give you peace of mind that things you value will be distributed according to your wishes when you die.
An estate plan can give you peace of mind that things you value will be distributed according to your wishes when you die.
It’s perfectly normal for aging parents who are currently completing their will along with their lawyer’s guidance, to leave the family home to their children.
If you are getting remarried, you obviously want to celebrate. However, it is also important to focus on less exciting matters, like redoing your estate plan.
Like most assets, you can inherit an individual retirement account (IRA) after the owner’s death. For spouses, inheriting an IRA is a relatively straightforward process.
When you’re in the midst of a divorce, you’re probably not thinking about estate planning or your will. However, if you’re divorcing, you should think about the impact a divorce can have on an estate plan.
If the estate is large and complicated, the assistance of an accountant may be needed. The deceased’s estate lawyer may also need to be involved.
Joint accounts may seem like an effective way to prepare if parents need help with finances as they get older, but unexpected problems could crop up.
In terms of executor vs. beneficiary rights, there are several differences with regard to what type of authority each one has.
A badly in debt woman dies leaving the proceeds of substantial insurance policies to her children only to have her trust contested by relatives who claim an amendment naming the children as beneficiaries is invalid with no witnesses, misspelled names, suspicious signatures and was never given to previous trustees for review as required by agreement. A long, expensive, and protracted legal battle likely is brewing.
The future is uncertain. However, you can ensure that your family and loved ones are taken care of with estate planning. Estate planning is a critical component of financial planning for the future.