With the proliferation of the internet has come a plethora of websites claiming that individuals may take a “Do It Yourself” approach to Estate Planning. While individuals may think that a plan created by one of these companies will meet their needs and save them money, the opposite is true. These plans often fail to contain necessary provisions and usually cost the family more in attorneys’ fees. In addition, a Trusts and Estate practitioner can alert a family to techniques designed to lower the tax burden upon the death of an individual. It’s easy to make costly mistakes if you don’t have an attorney both at the drafting stage and the administration stage of Estate Planning.
Common Mistakes in Estate Planning – Part II
When people think about an Estate Plan, they often have tunnel vision and focus on just a few of the many considerations that influence the plan. Most individuals focus on their assets and figuring out to whom they want those assets to pass. While those things matter, thinking about the intended beneficiary and their individual circumstances also matters. Certain types of beneficiaries require additional planning.
Common Mistakes in Estate Planning – Part I
Despite knowing that they should have an estate plan, many individuals look for shortcuts to creating an Estate Plan. They rely upon advice from seemingly well-intentioned individuals that if avoiding probate is their main goal and they don’t have a taxable estate, they need not seek out an attorney to create an Estate Plan. While options exist to avoid probate, probate avoidance is just one of many considerations in creating an Estate Plan.
Roth IRAs Can Be a Great Planning Strategy: Advanced
This is the second in a two-part series on Roth IRAs. The first part reviewed the basics of Roth IRAs. Read on to learn more.
It’s Important to Have a Coordinated Estate Plan
There are many parts to an Estate Plan. The Revocable Trust is just one part. It’s important to coordinate the various parts of the Estate Plan. Read on to learn more.
Revocable Trusts Are Not Always Treated the Same as an Individual
A revocable trust is treated the same as the individual for most purposes. But for some narrow purposes it can be treated differently. Read on to learn more.