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Estate planning remains important, even if the estate tax goes away. The elimination of the estate tax is included in the Trump administration’s tax plan proposal. However, the path forward is not simple, according to Financial Advisor in “Estate Planning: It’s Not Over.” Even though a big part of modern estate planning is planning around the […]
Cash for expenses should be included in an estate plan. Some advice on how to plan for your family to access cash while your estate is being settled comes from South Africa by way of Personal Finance in “Will your family avoid a cash-flow crisis on your death?“. The advice is equally applicable in the […]
You can create your own will. However, mistakes can turn out to be costly. There are hidden dangers in creating your own will, according to The New York Times in “Wills Can Avert Family Warfare, but Have Their Own Hidden Traps.” Most Americans do not have a will but a greater percentage of Americans have them […]
In order for your will and other estate planning documents to be useful, it is important they get into the hands of your executor. Many people believe that a safe and secure place for their estate plan is in a safety deposit box at a bank. However, it turns out that isn’t true, according to […]
Look at another person’s estate plan from their point of view. If you feel slighted by an estate plan, it is sometimes helpful to look at the other person’s point of view, according to philly.com in “Wife upset by in-laws’ plans for their estate.” A woman wrote to an advice column to say that her […]
Americans know about Social Security and how it works, but do they really know enough? A recent survey found that most people between the ages of 55-61 believe some myths about Social Security that should be corrected, according to CNBC in “The three biggest myths about how Social Security works.” The myths include: Many people […]
People cannot inherit assets from people they have killed, but there are exceptions. “Slayer Statutes” have their limitations, according to the Wills, Trusts & Estates Prof Blog in “Court Determines that Slayer Statute is Not Applicable in Self-Defense Case.” We have long had laws that are designed to prevent people from inheriting assets from people […]
Financial considerations are necessary if you plan to leave that summer home to the kids. While the children may have fond memories of the family vacation home, they may not be able to afford it or even want it after you pass, according to the Globe and Mail in “How to keep the cottage in […]
Even though their offspring may not want to think of it, the elderly may be sexually active and need proper protection. The unwillingness of offspring to consider that their elderly relatives may be sexually active can cause some problems, according to USA Today in “Yes, your grandmother is having sex.” One of the biggest problems […]
Doctors and other health care workers are trained to save lives whenever possible, but that can get them in trouble when patients don’t agree. Millions of people now have advanced medical directives. This can cause conflicts and problems for health care workers, according to The New York Times in “The Patients Were Saved, That’s Why […]
