The legal dispute surrounding the roughly $200 million estate of the late Charlotte developer Henry Faison has been resolved, with his company winning forgiveness of more than $100 million in loans he’d extended to it. The assets were in dispute because Faison tried to update his will so that a large portion of his wealth […]
Read More »Why Do You Need a Will?
This article gives the example of a businessman who had named his son as the nominee in all his investments. Since the son was managing all the father’s investments, it was convenient. But since the businessman passed away without making a will, now his daughter is finding it difficult to prove that she, too, has […]
Read More »Now That’s Awkward!
An awkward part of estate planning is telling your kids how much — or how little — they’ll get. Here’s how a financial planner can help. For clients, one of the most stressful aspects of estate planning — already an emotionally difficult process — is the prospect of telling heirs what they plan to do […]
Read More »The Basics of Estate Planning
Too often, the need for the most basic estate-planning documents is overlooked or misunderstood. While many people would admit they should have a will, 50 percent of Americans with children and 41 percent of baby boomers age 55 to 64 don’t have one, according to a survey from online legal services company RocketLawyer.com. If you […]
Read More »Who Gets What?
The murkiest part of estate planning is discussing when and how to distribute your assets to your heirs. This process requires a series of considerations and trade-offs to avoid emotion-laden family problems… when it comes to these issues, things get gray because emotional factors drive decisions now. There is no correct answer on how to […]
Read More »Kids: Don’t Fight!
Many people think sibling feuds only occur when we are young. In some cases this is true, but for some siblings this feud can continue into adulthood, tearing families apart. Caring for an ill parent or settling their estate once they have passed can start a feud or add to an already existing one. When […]
Read More »Just One Question: What is Estate Planning?
What is estate planning? Do you think it is only for the rich? One of the greatest gifts you can leave your loved ones is an organized estate. The time that you spend now will help your loved ones cope later, and ensure your wishes are carried out. An estate is all the rights, titles […]
Read More »Prince’s Sad and Incredibly Expensive Mistake! (Are You Making It, Too?)
The news of the unexpected death of music legend Prince, age 57, shocked the world and touched off stirring tributes from the likes of Bruce Springsteen, Elton John, the Harlem Gospel Choir and the cast of Saturday Night Live. Prince left a profound, indelible mark as an artist – when asked what it was like […]
Read More »Escape From a Bad Trust: 5 Strong Reasons to Decant Your Trust
When a bottle of wine is decanted, it’s poured from one container into another. When a trust is decanted, trust assets are poured from an old trust into a new trust with more favorable terms.
Read More »3 Simple Ways to Avoid Probate Costs
The bad news: probated estates are subject to a variety of costs from attorneys, executors, appraisers, accountants, courts, and state law. Depending on the probate’s complexity, fees can run into tens of thousands of dollars.
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