The recent death of James Gandolfini, best known as mobster Tony Soprano on the HBO series, is a reminder that it is never to soon to create an estate plan even if just a will. At the relatively young age of 51, the actor’s sudden death has left a reportedly $70 million estate with more […]
Probate
MAKING TOUGH DECISIONS ABOUT DISINHERITANCE
For some families, making a will is a process of distributing assets to loved ones after they are gone. But for other families, it is a heartwrenching process of deciding whether a disinheritance would be wise. Even if the family knows it is the best option, in almost all cases, the person who is disinherited […]
Joint checking account not best estate planning strategy
If you or someone you know has ever been through the tangled web of the probate process, you would probably do almost anything to avoid going through it again. While there are many estate planning strategies that can prevent the probate of an estate, some of the ones that seem relatively simple may cause the […]
Communicating about distribution of assets may prevent conflicts
When you start planning your estate, you will have to answer many questions about the distribution of assets after your death. There are many “technical” questions, such as will vs. trust, whom to name as executor or trustee, do you want a living will, etc. But you also have to consider the people who will […]
Keeping your estate plan current can prevent unintended results
When less than half of all Americans have even a simple will, the idea of telling people to review their estate plan on a regular basis seems almost futile. After all, you have to have an estate plan to review it. But for those who have gone through the process, it is just as important, […]
