Debt Archives - GP Schoemakers, PLLC

How to Get Organized to Meet with Your Estate Planning Attorney

Debt After Death: Why You Should Think About It When Estate Planning If you carry debt, do not assume that your death or incapacity will make it automatically disappear. To the contrary, the money you owe may eat away at the assets you were planning to leave to your heirs or — if you owe a large amount of money — may wipe out your estate completely. Debt comes in many different forms including credit cards, student loans, car payments, mortgages, and other financial obligations. Not Just About Assets Estate planning lets you name people you trust to manage your affairs if you’re unable [...]

The Perils of Joint Property

People often set up bank accounts or real estate so that they own it jointly with a spouse or other family member. The appeal of joint tenancy is that when one owner dies, the other will automatically inherit the property without it having to go through probate. Joint property is all perceived to be easy to setup since it can be done at the bank when opening an account or title company when buying real estate. That’s all well and good, but joint ownership can also cause unintended consequences and complications. And it’s worth considering some of these, before deciding [...]