Estate Planning
Estate Planning is the process of determining how your wealth and assets should be transferred to the heirs of your choice: your children, grandchildren, friends, families, charitable causes, etc. and then deciding which legal tools and structures to use to best meet your estate planning goals.
Estate planning is not simply reducing or eliminating taxes and avoiding probate. Only after establishing how you want your estate’s assets to be distributed should you consider ways to reduce taxes and avoid probate. From there, good estate plans deal with a host of other issues. Now, with all but a few estates exempt from the federal estate tax, those other issues are, or should be, at the forefront of estate planning.
An estate plan is to ensure that you are taken care of the rest of your life and that your wealth is transferred to the people you want to have it. A good estate plan ensures these goals are accomplished with as much efficiency and as little cost as possible. An estate plan addresses the management and distribution of an individual’s property and financial obligations after he or she dies with financial tools such as wills, revocable living trusts and power of attorney.
For a comprehensive overview of Estate Planning, please start with our article:
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What are the Most Commonly Used Probate Forms?
Probate can be a long and expensive process in which an estate is settled and distributed to the next generation of owners. During probate the estate’s administrator, who sometimes is called the executor or personal representative, prepares and files forms with the probate court. What is Probate? Probate is the legal process that […]
10 Tips to Avoid Probate
Probate is the legal process that ensures your debts are paid and legal title of your assets is transferred to the appropriate heirs and beneficiaries. If you have a will, the probate process will determine whether the will is authentic and valid. Probate is necessary in all cases. While having a last will […]
What is the Difference Between a Testament and a Will?
There is no difference between a testament and a will these days. In recent times, the words “testament” and “will” are often seen together as “last will and testament.” A last will and testament is a legal document that outlines a person’s final wishes regarding the distribution of assets and property after death […]
What is the Definition of a Last Will and Testament?
The terms “last will and testament” and “will” often are used interchangeably and today mean the same thing. Both refer to a legal document that outlines a person’s final wishes regarding the distribution of assets and property after death and often other matters, such as the guardianship of minor children. Will is often […]
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How to Write a Last Will and Testament
About 74% of Americans lack a last will and testament, often because they find it a confusing or difficult topic. Writing a will is not as difficult as many people believe, and many people can do it with or without a lawyer. A lawyer is not required for a valid will, but many people […]
Last Will and Testament Template
About 74% of Americans lack a last will and testament. However, the last will and testament, is fairly easy to prepare. A last will and testament is a legal document that describes how the estate is to be distributed according to the wishes of the testator and sometimes covers other issues. You […]
How to Transfer Assets Out of Your Estate Yet Retain Access to the Money
You can take advantage of today’s big estate and gift tax opportunities and still retain some access to your wealth.Estate planning strategies are never going to be as effective as they are now because of the high exemption amounts, low estate and gift tax rate and low interest rates. See our July 2020 issue for […]
How to Make a Will Without a Lawyer, Part II
In last week’s Retirement Watch Weekly, I presented Part 1 of How To Make a Will Without a Lawyer. Here’s Part 2: Name Guardians for Your Children When a testator has minor children, the will should designate one or more individuals who will serve as guardians for the children if both parents are deceased. It […]
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