Welcoming a new pet into the home, is always a happy occasion. Planning for a furry friend’s life after its owner has passed, is as important as any other aspect of pet care. It’s interesting that so many Americans still…
Widowed or divorced seniors who decide to remarry late in life, need to understand that this may make a big change in their Social Security benefits. They also need to review their estate plan. Marital status is part of the…
When most people in their 50s don’t have a will, it’s no surprise that people in their 20s and 30s don’t think they need a will. However, they do, especially if they have small children. Most of us live for…
A new role has been created in estate planning to serve a new type of asset. The electronic estate trustee is charged with overseeing your digital assets. Most wills do not include provisions concerning digital assets, as reported in the…
No one likes to consider their own death, or that of a loved one. But imagine having to cope with grief and loss at the same time that you have to tackle settling an estate, when there’s no plan in…
Being able to talk with your family about your estate plan is not easy, since the underlying subtext—your own eventual death—is difficult for parents and adult children. However, by having these frank discussions, you eliminate stress and often, promote a…
We all know that someday we and our spouses will die, but knowing that and being prepared for what comes when one becomes suddenly single, either because of an unexpected death or divorce, is daunting, particularly for women. Among the…
The responsibility of a large inheritance is one that many people take very seriously. Sometimes, this can be a stressful situation, even though that sounds unlikely. Maybe you buy the occasional lottery ticket or hope for a windfall from a…
Deciding when you should retire should be guided by a number of factors, including when you can afford to retire and if you have a plan of what to do with the rest of your life. In an ideal world,…
Everyone needs an estate plan, regardless of your level of net worth. Think of your estate plan like a car: it needs ongoing service to keep running smoothly. One of the key functions of an estate plan is to distribute…