Why Should I Update My Estate Plan?
Estate planning is making decisions today for what you want to happen in the future.
How Long Is Probate?
Probate is a legal process wherein a court oversees the settlement of an estate after the owner passes.
Is There More to Estate Planning Than Writing My Will?
One reason for having a will is to make sure your wishes are carried out. If you die “intestate” (without a will), your assets will be distributed by state law, not by your desires.
What Should I Know Before Starting Social Security?
Since you began working, Social Security has recorded your reported earnings under your name and Social Security number. Social Security updates your record each time your employer (or you, if you’re self-employed) report your earnings. Your earnings determine your benefit amount.
Do You Need an Estate Plan or Will?
Have you thought about how you’d like your family to continue after you’re gone? Having an estate plan isn’t just for the ultra-wealthy.
What Is the First Thing an Executor of a Will Should do?
At some point in your life, there’s a good chance you’ll be tasked with acting as the executor of an estate. The designation is both an honor and an obligation.
How Much can You Inherit and Not Pay Taxes?
Unless you spend your winters in Aspen and your summers in the Hamptons, you probably don’t have to worry about paying federal estate taxes on an inheritance. In 2021, the federal estate tax doesn’t kick in unless an estate exceeds $11.7 million.
How Do You File Taxes If Your Spouse Dies?
About 1.5 million Americans become widows and widowers in a normal year, but the pandemic has boosted that significantly. The National Center for Family and Marriage Research at Bowling Green State University estimates that about 380,000 of more than 700,000 people in the U.S. who have died from Covid were married.
Is It Important to Have a Power of Attorney?
While we are alive, we can clearly make our own decisions. Unfortunately, one day you may find yourself in a situation where you cannot make your own decisions. Such situations occur most often in accidents, illnesses (physical or mental) and simple aging situations.
What Do I Do with Estate Plan after Divorce?
Major changes in your life—such as marriage, having a baby, moving out of state, or divorce—should prompt a revisit to your current will. It is important to revise your will at these times, in order to ensure that your estate planning is up to date.
