My Spouse Has Died. What Now?
The loss of a spouse is one of the most stressful events of anyone’s life. It’s a time of great vulnerability, yet there are so many decisions to make and things to do. How do you proceed? Probably the best…
What Are the Steps to Transfer a Home to Heirs?
Leaving the home to the family is a lovely gesture that can establish a long-time legacy. Generations who share memories of a home are not that common today, making this a special act. Memories of growing up in a home…
What Happens to Family Finances if There’s No Will?
Many older workers focus on saving for retirement, paying off debt and looking forward to a slower pace. They don’t focus on wills and estate plans. That’s a big money mistake. We don’t think about our estate plan as a…
Don’t Wait on These Key Estate Planning Documents
Want another way to show your family how much they mean to you? Make sure you have these three critical documents in place, and let them know where they are. You don’t have to be a globally-recognized musical genius to…
Can I Do Anything, if My Own Dad Disinherited Me?
You’ll need a strong case to fight this type of claim, because the options are limited. It does not seem fair that a father would change his will to disinherit a son. However, unfortunately that does happen. If the will…
Protecting Your Family with an Estate Plan
Think of your estate plan as a gift to your family that protects them, conveys your wishes and prevents family fall-outs over personal possessions. None of us like to think about death. That is central to the creation of an…
How Do Americans Feel About Dying?
A new study reveals that we are less concerned about dying, than we are about dementia and experiencing pain at death. And, no surprise, half of the people surveyed did not have a will. A report released by Merrill Lynch…
How Bad Will My IRA Withdrawal Tax Bills Be?
The amount of taxes paid on withdrawals from IRA accounts depends on a number of different factors. Mapping this out in advance, will let you plan a retirement budget with fewer tax surprises. Your tax liability on IRA and other…
Preparing for Alzheimer’s and Diminished Mental Capacity
The early stages of Alzheimer’s can be difficult to negotiate for family members. What happens when a parent with a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s decides she wants to sell the family home, without having any discussion with other family members or…
Inheritance Process is Taking Longer Because of Taxes
Each state has its own laws about estate taxes and inheritance taxes. If you’re waiting on an inheritance and you’re not the executor, it can be more frustrating when you don’t know what’s taking so long. The question is asked…