Category Archives: (Dis)Inheritance
How Can Estate Planning Address the Troubled Child?
Every family has unique challenges when planning for the future, and every family needs to consider its individual beneficiaries in an honest light, even when the view isn’t pretty. Concerns may range from adults with substance abuse problems, an inability to make good decisions, or siblings with worrisome marriages. These situations can be addressed… Read More »
How to Protect Your Estate from Unintended Heirs
Disinheriting a child as an heir happens for a variety of reasons. There may have been a long-running dispute, estrangement over a lifestyle choice, or not wanting to give assets to a child who squanders money. What happens when a will or trust has left a child without an inheritance is examined in an… Read More »
Estate Planning During a Pandemic
KCRA’s article entitled“5 things to know about estate planning” says that estate planning is a topic that people frequently don’t like to think about. However, more people now want to create a will or revise one that’s already in existence, because of the COVID-19 pandemic. You should have a will. You can find forms… Read More »
Update Will at These 12 Times in Your Life
Estate planning lawyers hear it all the time—people meaning to update their will, but somehow never getting around to actually getting it done. The only group larger than the ones who mean to “someday, ” are the ones who don’t think they ever need to update their documents, says the article “12 Different Times… Read More »
How Can You Disinherit Someone and Be Sure it Sticks?
Let’s say you want to leave everything you own to your children, but you can’t stand and don’t trust their spouses. That might make you want to delay making an estate plan, because it’s a hard thing to come to terms with, says a recent article “Dealing with disinheritance, spouses” from the Times Herald-Record…. Read More »
What are Some Estate Planning Tips for People Without Kids?
If you and your spouse don’t have children, the focus of your financial legacy may be quite different from what it would be if you were parents. Motley Fool’s article, “5 Estate-Planning Tips for Child-Free Couples, ” suggests that you may want to leave some of your money to friends, family members, charitable organizations,… Read More »
Ignoring Beneficiary Designations Is a Risky Business
Ignore beneficiary forms at your and your heirs’ own peril, especially when there are minor children, is the message from TAPintoChatham.com’s recent article “Are You Ready to Deal with Your Beneficiary Forms?” The knee-jerk reaction is to name the spouse as a primary beneficiary and then name the minor children as contingent beneficiaries. However,… Read More »
Succession Planning For Business Owners
A business owner without an estate plan, is a business owner whose business and personal estate are both in jeopardy, says the Augusta Free Press in an article that asks “Own a business? 5 reasons you need an estate plan.” You need more than a will to plan for incapacity. If you become ill… Read More »
What Should I Look for in a Trustee?
Selecting a trustee to manage your estate after you pass away is an important decision. Depending on the type of trust you’re creating, the trustee will be in charge of overseeing your assets and the assets of your family. It’s common for people to choose either a friend or family member, a professional trustee… Read More »
Planning on Disinheriting a Child? Best to Be Careful!
The law is very specific when it comes to disinheriting your child, so it is a good idea to be perfectly clear on your wishes or it can backfire, according to the Santa Cruz Sentinel in “No shortcuts when planning estate trust.” Let’s consider this example: A couple has a son and a daughter…. Read More »