Estate Planning
During a lifetime, a person may accumulate a significant amount of material possessions. These valuables are considered his or her estate. Originally, the word referred only to property in land ... an individual's estate consisted of the interest or rights that the person held in land. United States courts have since ruled that the word estate covers everything a person owns, both real and personal. A person's estate has tied to it a complex set of laws regarding ownership, trust, and taxes. There are a myriad of companies and organizations that exist to help individuals through this legal maze. The articles included herein relate specifically to estate planning.
7 Common Mistakes of Estate Planning
The most common mistake when it comes to estate planning is not getting around to doing it at all. Make sure that you take the time to plan at least the financial portion of your estate so that you leave your loved ones behind with some amount of security. The following seven mistakes often put families into great difficulty after a loved one’s passing.
When Not to Name Your Spouse the Beneficiary of Your IRA
Have you blindly named your spouse as the beneficiary of your IRA? Is this your best choice? Depending on your situation and objectives, other beneficiary elections may be better. Here are three options you may not have considered.
Simplifying a Difficult Senior Planning Decision: The Family Home
Whether or not to sell their home is one of the biggest sources of consternation to seniors. Here are reasons to stay put and ways to remain in the home and get the equity out.
Don’t Let Poor Estate Planning Tear Your Family Apart
An estate is more than just money. Even if your kids are grown-up with families of their own, you can probably remember scenes of intense sibling rivalry when they were younger.
Don’t Take Your Estate Planning Lying Down
You may have heard a variation of the urban legend that has the departed loved one suddenly sitting up in the casket at a funeral. You may have heard it, but it likely isn’t true, according to the Web site for Dimond and Sons Silver Bell Chapel.
Plan Your Estate, or the State Will Do It For You
There are certain things that you must do to take care of yourself and your family. One such responsibility is planning for what will happen to your assets when you die. While it may be something most people don't like to dwell on, everyone needs an estate plan.
Whether or not to sell their home is one of the biggest sources of consternation to seniors. Here are reasons to stay put and ways to remain in the home and get the equity out.
Don’t Let Poor Estate Planning Tear Your Family Apart
An estate is more than just money. Even if your kids are grown-up with families of their own, you can probably remember scenes of intense sibling rivalry when they were younger.
Don’t Take Your Estate Planning Lying Down
You may have heard a variation of the urban legend that has the departed loved one suddenly sitting up in the casket at a funeral. You may have heard it, but it likely isn’t true, according to the Web site for Dimond and Sons Silver Bell Chapel.
Plan Your Estate, or the State Will Do It For You
There are certain things that you must do to take care of yourself and your family. One such responsibility is planning for what will happen to your assets when you die. While it may be something most people don't like to dwell on, everyone needs an estate plan.