Why Should I Update My Estate Plan?
Estate planning is making decisions today for what you want to happen in the future.
Probate services refer to the legal services provided to individuals or families involved in the administration of a deceased person’s estate. These services typically involve the court-supervised process of distributing the deceased person’s assets and properties to their beneficiaries or heirs according to their will or state laws if there is no will. Probate services may include drafting and filing legal documents, representing clients in court, resolving disputes between beneficiaries, managing estate assets, and advising clients on tax implications and strategies for asset protection. The goal of probate services is to ensure that the estate is distributed in an orderly and fair manner while minimizing costs and maximizing the value of the estate for the beneficiaries. Probate services are often provided by lawyers, but may also be provided by other professionals such as estate planners or financial advisors.
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Estate planning is making decisions today for what you want to happen in the future.
My wife died and left a bank account with no beneficiary. The bank tells me I have to go through probate. I inherited everything else. What do I have to do?
An effective estate plan uses a collection of documents and teamwork to protect one’s assets and personal property. An effective estate plan also explains and carries intentions of how to pass control down to successors in the event of your absence.
No one relishes the thought of the day they pass away and leave all their worldly possessions behind. However, it’s a certainty that no one can avoid. Thankfully, you have options for planning for what happens to your estate, including a will or a family trust.
According to a Caring.com survey, only 4 in 10 American adults have a will or a living trust. And what may be even more surprising is that younger adults are outpacing their middle-aged and older counterparts when it comes to estate planning.
If your life changes, so should your estate plan. Marriage, divorce, death of a spouse, a birth and a changing relationship with a child are just some of the life changes that may affect your estate plan.
Estate planning is one of the most local areas of the law. It might be second only to criminal law in this respect. This means that the specific rules governing estate planning, testate inheritance and intestate transfers vary widely from state to state, and even sometimes between cities.
While a will is often part of an estate plan, an estate plan covers much more ground.
For larger estates, a revocable trust is generally the most effective tool for avoiding probate. It involves some setup costs. However, it allows you to manage the disposition of all of your wealth in one document, while retaining control and reserving the right to modify your plan.
Every so often, it’s smart to methodically go through your estate planning documents and see if any tweaks are needed. Here’s a checklist to guide you through that mission.