Your Personal Representative/Executor Updated: December 14, 2022 Choosing an Executor Tasks of an Executor The Estate Account Digital Executor A personal representative is the person you name to settle your will according to your directions. They must be approved by the probate before they can assume their role. Your executor is entitled to a fee […]
What Should be Included in a Will Updated: December 12, 2022 Your Beneficiaries Your Choice of Executor/Personal Representative Your Choice of Guardians for Minor Children or Dependent Adults Your Assets Your will should include basic personal information such as your full name, birthdate, and address. You should include any other names you go by, as […]
Beneficiaries Updated: October 16, 2023 Primary Beneficiaries Contingent Beneficiaries Trust as a Beneficiary in Your Will or Retirement Plan Beneficiaries are the people you choose to inherit part or all of your estate after your death. Adult beneficiaries can be named as executors and/or trustees, but shouldn’t sign as witnesses of any estate documents. They […]
Estates and Taxes Updated: October 24, 2023 Gift Tax Estate Tax Inheritance Tax Income Tax Capital Gains Tax Generation-skipping Tax Like the end of life, taxes are also inevitable when your estate is passed on. There are five ways your estate may be taxed after you die, three of which will be paid by your […]
Estate Basics After you have detailed your assets, chosen beneficiaries, named executors/trustees, and decided on how to disperse your assets, you should choose the most effective ways to accomplish and document the estate plan. Settling your affairs is a difficult and time-consuming task. Without all of the needed documents and information, the process can be […]
Doing it Yourself Updated: December 16, 2022 A Summary of the Will-making Process Making Sure Your Will Is Valid When to Get Help Other Things to Consider Attorneys and other estate planners do not come cheaply, so when it comes time to make your last will and testament, can you go it alone? Doing it […]
Inheritance Law Updated: October 17, 2023 Inheritance Rights of a Surviving Spouse Inheritance Rights of a Spouse after Divorce Inheritance Rights of Children Inheritance Rights of Grandchildren Most people assume that their close relatives will inherit only what is left to them in the will. However, when it comes to your spouse and descendants this […]
Last Will and Testament The last will and testament is a major part of an estate plan and will ensure that the estate is settled according to your wishes. While there are other steps in estate planning, the will is the primary document to guide the process of settling an estate for most people. The […]
What Should Not be Included in a Will Updated: December 13, 2022 All last will and testaments will need to go through the probate process, but that does not mean all of your assets do. Those assets that do not need to be included in your will are known as non-probate estate assets. There are […]
Limitations of Wills Updated: December 19, 2022 While your will legally allows you to protect certain personal assets and specify your wishes after you die, there are certain things you won’t be able to do with your will. There are some practical limitations, but the primary drawbacks are that the content of your will is […]
