Dear Kiwi and Mango,My husband and I are ready to embark on our Estate Planning. This is the second marriage for both of us, and we aren’t sure whether to get a joint trust or separate trusts? I read somewhere that there is a … [Read more...]
Print This PageWhat Happens and Who Inherits When You Die with No Will or Living Trust?
September 4, 2024 by
Over two-thirds of U.S. adults have no Last Will and Testament or Estate Plan, according to a recent Caring.com study. Dying without a Will (and without an Estate Plan that uses a Living Trust as a Will substitute to avoid … [Read more...]
Print This PageAre Transfer on Death Deeds a Good Alternative to Estate Planning?
February 9, 2024 by
Q. I was recently discussing with my husband what would happen to our house in Annandale, Virginia when we are no longer around, especially since we don’t have our estate planning in place yet. One my friends’ parents recently … [Read more...]
Print This PageThe Nightmare of Probate: Prince’s Estate Took Six Years to Settle
August 16, 2022 by
In 2016, the legendary musician and actor Prince died of a fentanyl overdose. He left behind an incredible legacy, significant assets, many relatives, and, unfortunately, no will and no trust. It took six years and tens of … [Read more...]
Print This PageProblems with Beneficiary Designations Part 2
June 3, 2022 by
Q. Last week, you wrote about why inheritance sometimes goes unclaimed, and how it’s a lot less likely when you have a trust in place. I read something about the downsides of beneficiary designations naming individuals and how … [Read more...]
Print This PageAre There Universal Rules for Trusts in U.S. States?
September 10, 2021 by
Q. Last week, in your article about Power of Attorney documents, you discussed the Uniform Power of Attorney Act, a law that was created to give universal rules for POAs across the states that have adopted it. Is there a similar … [Read more...]
Print This PageHow Do You Handle Homeowners Insurance When Your House is in a Trust?
April 23, 2021 by
Q. We decided to get our estate planning documents done and our home is now in a revocable living trust. We feel good about taking this action because our loved ones will not be overburdened with the nightmare of probate when we … [Read more...]
Print This PageWhen A Trust is Ambiguous
March 12, 2021 by
Q. I have been married to my second husband, Tony, for 10 years. We have two children together and three from both of our previous marriages. I am very close with my mother-in-law, Isabella who recently moved in with us and helps … [Read more...]
Print This PageHow Can You Reduce Your Capital Gains Taxes?
December 11, 2018 by
Diane, at age 80, resides in the home she has lived in for nearly 40 years. When she initially purchased the home after her husband’s death, it cost only $25,000 (and she since put in $45,000 in improvements); today it’s worth at … [Read more...]
Print This PageThe “Queen of Soul” and Other Celebrities Who Died Without a Will
August 28, 2018 by
Aretha Franklin, "the Queen of Soul" died on August 16, at the age of 76, from pancreatic cancer. Similar to many other celebrities as we will describe in more detail in this article, a recent court filing revealed that Franklin … [Read more...]
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