A Real Life Case of When There’s No Will

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 […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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A Quick Review of the Living Trust

A living trust has advantages that a will can’t offer, so you may want to keep both. A revocable living trust is similar to a will in that it indicates how you would like your assets to be distributed after your death and can be amended anytime. While you should always have a will, a […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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Mediation and Discussing Issues in Elder Law

There is no debating that the American population is aging at a rapid pace. In fact, by the year 2030, it is estimated that 19 percent of America’s population will be over the age of 65. With an aging populace, our country has seen an emerging need for qualified professionals to deal with the problems […]

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Keep Up Financially with the Changing Seasons

As the summer comes to an end and we head into the fall, a parallel can be drawn between the seasons of weather and the seasons of money. Just as you have spring, summer, fall and winter, there are four financial seasons of life that include accumulation, preservation, distribution and succession. Approaching your finances with […]

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Estate Planning Is No Saturday Morning Project!

Americans, by and large, are do-it-yourselfers. Information abounds to help us tackle all kinds of situations — including estate planning. However, it might be best to use caution when considering preparing your own will and other estate planning documents.

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