Accidental disinheritance can occur when a person unintentionally fails to leave assets to a loved one in their estate plan. This can happen for a variety of reasons, such as overlooking a beneficiary, failing to update a will after a life-changing event, or misunderstanding the legal requirements for passing on property. Accidental disinheritance can have […]
Estate Planning
Updating Your Revocable Trust: How Many “Tweaks” Are Too Many?
If your life or the law has changed since you signed your trust, it needs to be updated. Updates can be made by way of an amendment – or – a complete restatement. An amendment updates a specific part of the trust, whereas, a restatement, updates the entire trust. You might think that an amendment […]
Three Keys To Protecting Yourself From A Rogue Executor
Unfortunately, sometimes a death in the family can bring out the worst in people. Indeed, family resentments sometimes simmer during a time of grieving – particularly when money and assets from the deceased’s estate are involved. If you are a beneficiary under a loved one’s estate plan, you may be under the assumption that those […]
Estate Planning: Why Me, Why Now and is a Will Enough?
You have worked hard for years, have family members and friends you care about, and have approached a time in your life when “estate planning” sounds like something you should do, but you are not exactly sure why. You may feel that you are not wealthy enough or old enough to bother or care. Or […]
Did Whitney Houston Leave Too Much Money To Bobbi Kristina?
Whitney Houston’s estate was worth approximately $20 million when she died – plenty to meet the needs of her only daughter – Bobbi Kristina. Sadly, only a few years after Houston’s death, Bobbi Kristina died as well. Although Bobbi Kristina’s previous boyfriend, Nick Gordon, is still a suspect in her murder, many say that having […]
A Powerful Exercise To Surface The Values You Want To Pass On To The Next Generation
Every one of us receives and passes on an inheritance. The inheritance may not be an accumulation of earthly possessions or acquired riches, but whether we realize it or not, our choices, words, actions, and values will impact someone and form the heritage we hand down. — Ben Hardesty Successful estate planning is about far […]
3 Tips For Overwhelmed Executors
While it is an honor to be named as an executor of a will or estate, it can also be a sobering and daunting responsibility. Being an executor (sometimes called a personal representative) requires a high level of organization, foresight, and attention to detail to meet responsibilities and ensure that all beneficiaries receive the assets […]
3 Liability Planning Tips For Physicians
You probably know that the practice of medicine is a profession fraught with the risk of liability. It’s not just medical malpractice claims either (although those are certainly scary enough). It’s the entire scope of risk from being in business, including employment-related issues, careless business partners and employees, and contractual obligations, as well as personal […]