Having a Last Will and Testament is important, and it is even more important for the individual creating that Last Will to meet with an attorney while in a clear and uninfluenced state of mind. This is where it is useful to understand what it means to be unduly...
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Wills & Trusts
Irrevocable trusts and why they could matter for Medicaid planning
New York allows people to establish trusts, which can help control, manage or protect assets. While there are many different types, two of the main types are revocable and irrevocable trusts. The revocable trust has language saying that the grantor/creator may change...
Who should write a will?
Many people have a false belief that only two groups of people need a will: the elderly and the rich. In reality, however, anyone could benefit from a will. In fact, the earlier you write a will, the more beneficial it will likely be. Increasing awareness of a will's...
When should you start an estate plan?
As a young adult, you may not have estate planning as a top priority. You may erroneously believe estate planning is for older adults, but this is untrue. What age should you consider planning your estate? Under the law, if you are 18, you can write a will. Take a...
How can you stop arguments from happening over your will?
When dealing with the matter of your will, you should recognize and understand the fact that arguments can and often do happen over a will even with your good intentions. In what ways can you reduce the chance of these arguments from happening? The importance of...
How can you avoid mistakes with beneficiary designations?
When it comes to assets like retirement accounts and life insurance policies, beneficiary designations dictate who receives the proceeds after you are gone. Unlike other assets, which you can include within your will, assets with beneficiary designations stand...
Should you agree to be an executor of an estate?
When someone sets up a will or estate plan, they name an executor to carry out their wishes once they die. According to Forbes, the executor does what is best for the estate when fulfilling their fiduciary duty. Because of this, it may be a good idea to consider if...
What is a charitable lead trust?
If you want to set up a trust, it is vital to go over all of the different options you have. The choices you make will impact your loved ones and may affect others as well, especially if you want to contribute to a charity, for example. If you have decided to...
Is it time to review your estate plan?
Estate plans are not static pieces of legislation. As their purpose is to accurately reflect your life at any given point in it, you should ensure that it actually gets updated frequently. But how do you know when it is time to review your plan to see if you need to...
Why do siblings fight over inheritance?
One thing most people do not want to consider when creating their estate plan is whether or not it will cause rifts in the family. Unfortunately, estate plans and wills have very real power to rip a family apart. Thus, it is important to understand exactly why many of...