When Do Irrevocable Trusts Make Sense?

  As conveyed in the name, setting up an irrevocable trust requires serious commitment. Though there are legal remedies that can be applied if life circumstances shift after an irrevocable trust is established, lawyers recommend crystal clear intent prior to...

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Leave These Assets Out: Trusts

  Establishing a revocable living trust helps you plan for your own needs as you age or decline in capacity, and arrange for the transfer of assets to the beneficiaries named in your trust agreement. There are, however, some assets...

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Funding a Revocable Living Trust?

  Working with a lawyer to set up a revocable living trust is a smart way to plan both for your own needs as you age and to ensure a smooth and timely distribution of your assets to loved ones...

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Inheritance: Dividing The Money Evenly?

  No, parents do not have to divide their assets evenly among their children when creating a will. Although it is common to do so, there are no laws entitling each child “to get their share.” Lawyers encourage families to...

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Vacation Joy or Inheritance Headache?

If you have had the good fortune of enjoying a vacation home or timeshare, good for you! Don’t be too quick to assume, however, that family or friends want to continue your tradition when you die. Experts point out that...

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New Job? Beneficiary Designations

Congratulations on your new job! With your letter of hire in hand, don’t get so immersed in your new life that you fluff over the forms that come with new benefits. For example, take the beneficiary designations seriously. Perhaps it’s...

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Unmarried Life Partners? Make a Will!

Life partners who do not have a marriage certificate but hope to leave assets to each other should take special care to put a will in place. Without a will, you risk not inheriting from each other—or even making medical...

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Avoiding Conflict When Executing a Will

When you execute the will of a family member or friend, you are likely to find yourself coping with high levels of emotion as well as the legalities of the probate process, as you honor your fiduciary responsibilities. Estate experts...

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Excel at Execution: Will You?

  When the time comes to execute the will of a loved one or friend, you may find yourself with a growing list of duties and chores you didn’t quite anticipate when you accepted the commitment. Here is some friendly...

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Wills, Executors and Documents

  If you have made a will, you have probably also designated an executor to carry out the intentions expressed in it. Good for you—these are tasks many of us just can’t seem to bring ourselves to do. Next step:...

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