One of the most difficult things for family business owners to contend with in their estate plans is how to pass on the business to the next generation. Careful succession planning is required if business owners want to avoid making common mistakes.
Read More »Surprise! You Can’t Easily Disinherit Your Spouse in the U.S.
Believe it or not, in the U.S. it isn’t easy to disinherit your spouse. But the same is not true for other family members – generally, you can use your estate plan to disinherit your brothers and sisters, your nieces and nephews, or even your very own children and grandchildren.
Read More »3 Powers to Consider Giving to a Trust Protector
Today many estate plans contain irrevocable trusts that will continue for the benefit of a spouse’s lifetime and then for the benefit of several generations. Since these trusts are designed to span multiple decades, it is important that they include a trust protector who will have the ability to adjust the trust provisions as circumstances, […]
Read More »The Lifetime QTIP Trust: Or (How to Maintain Control of Your Estate and Keep Spouse No. 2 Happy)
Estate planning for couples in a second or later marriage who have disproportionate estates can be tricky. One solution for allowing the well-to-do spouse to maintain control of their assets but keep their other half happy is the Lifetime QTIP Trust.
Read More »Even Vampires Need Estate Planning
Yes, even the undead need an estate plan. After you stop laughing you need to hear me out. As we’ve learned from the likes of The Vampire Chronicles, the Twilight saga, and HBO’s True Blood, vampires aren’t immortal. They do die, and it’s usually unexpected and messy.
Read More »Dispelling the Top 3 Estate Planning Myths
Like any other complex subject, estate planning has its share of myths and misconceptions. Understanding the top three estate planning myths will help you to create and maintain a plan that will work the way you expect it to work when it’s needed.
Read More »Decanting: How to Fix a Trust That Isn’t Getting Better With Age
While many wines get better with age, the same cannot be said for some irrevocable trusts. Maybe you’re the beneficiary of a trust created by your great grandfather seventy years ago that no longer makes sense. Or maybe you created an irrevocable trust twenty years ago that doesn’t work as it should. Is there any […]
Read More »Why Some Incentive Trusts Fail
Incentive trusts are a popular way for people to encourage good behavior from their heirs. However, incentive trusts have limitations and you should be aware of them.
Read More »How to Get Disinherited
If you do not want to be disinherited by your relatives, it might be helpful to know what actions often lead to disinheritances so that you can avoid them. Normally when someone is disinherited it comes with anger and surprise. This is because often people do not think that they have done anything so […]
Read More »The Importance of Digital Asset Planning and Organization
If you have ever forgotten a password to a digital account, then you know how difficult it can sometimes be to retrieve it. It might require remembering how you answered a security question like “Who was your favorite teacher growing up?” Remembering how you quickly answered that question several years in the past can be […]
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