Estate planning involves writing out a will and maybe also creating a living will that takes effect if you experience a medical emergency. Those with spouses, children or substantial personal property may need an estate plan for their own protection or to ensure the...

Having an estate plan is a great way to ensure that you are looking after your future. Guardianships, health care directives, wills and trusts, and appointing a Power of Attorney (POA) all offer ways to ensure that you are protecting your best wishes. While you may be...

Powers of attorney are arguably the most misunderstood of all estate planning documents. A surprising number of people are so wary about giving someone else authority over their finances or health that they just don't include powers of attorney in their estate plan at...

You're pregnant? Congratulations! Now that you know that you're expecting, it's likely that you have a long list of things to do so that you are fully prepared for the new addition to your family, from nesting in the home to preparing for hospital appointments. One...

Estate planning is often a complicated process. It is more involved for some people than for others. The more complex your personal property and family circumstances are, the more difficult estate planning can be. Business owners often have both family complications...

If you’re putting together an estate plan and have a large amount of money to leave to a beneficiary as an inheritance, one thing you may be interested in is a trust. With a trust, you can leave assets to your beneficiary and protect those assets against creditors...

Sending your child to a private school or college can be a huge financial burden on families. However, many parents believe that a good education is one of the most important aspects of a child's upbringing, and they are willing to make sacrifices to ensure that they...

Creating an estate plan is a big step forward. Not only does it protect your estate and loved ones upon your death, but it can benefit you and your family in many ways while you’re alive. While creating your first estate plan is an accomplishment in its own right,...

Trusts are one of the most valuable tools you have when creating an estate plan. They give you more control and the ability to dictate exactly how the assets you own move down to your heirs. A will allows you to say who gets what, but that’s about all it does. A trust...

A recent study shows only four out of every 10 American adults have an estate plan, including a will or trust to distribute their assets when they die. That low percentage has a lot to do with misconceptions over estate planning. First, you don’t have to be rich or...