Sometimes, a Professional Trustee is a Good Idea

July 18, 2024

A couple in their 70s are trying to complete their estate plan but can’t determine who should be their trustee or executor. It’s a second marriage for both. They each have an adult child, but neither child can serve. There are no other living relatives, and all their friends are also in their 70s. Sometimes, a professional trustee is a good idea. A professional trustee or company can provide administrative services for the trust without the potential headache with family members.

The couple gets kudos for tackling this complex issue, according to the article “We’re in our 70s and don’t trust our family to handle our estate. What can we do?” from Market Watch. Most people give up at this point and then run into problems in the future, either because of incapacity or because the death of the first spouse leaves the surviving spouse in a difficult situation.

The first place to start is conversing with your estate planning attorney. They will likely know of a professional trustee or company providing “estate administration services.” It may be possible that they offer this service in their own office, too.

If this isn’t satisfactory, speak with a major financial institution, which will likely be insured and subject to state and federal regulations. They may handle your financial and personal information, such as distributing assets, closing down accounts, handling digital assets and filing income and estate tax returns.

Consider the window of time. You’ll want to be sure the person or bank will still be operating in ten to twenty years. You’ll also want to be sure they are a fiduciary. This means they are legally bound to put your interests above their own, which a court can enforce.

The fees will depend upon the size of your assets and the entity you choose. A large bank will usually charge a certain percentage of your assets. Some use a sliding scale, like 5% on the first $100,000 and a lower percentage as the asset level rises. A $1 million estate could cost around $30,000 to administer.

If a professional trustee is the same person who is administering your trusts, there will be additional fees. The assets in the trust will need to be managed, including investing, making distributions and paying taxes. Many professional trustees handle special needs trusts, where parents have left money for disabled adult children, and administer trusts for family members.

Sometimes, a professional trustee is a good idea, even when family members are available. Naming a professional, whether an institution or an individual, can alleviate concerns about family dynamics interfering with your wishes. If you would like to learn more about being an executor, or trustee, please visit our previous posts.

Reference: Market Watch (June 15, 2024) “We’re in our 70s and don’t trust our family to handle our estate. What can we do?”

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Should You Tell Beneficiaries Their Inheritance?

July 16, 2024

Should you tell beneficiaries their inheritance? It is a legitimate question for many families. If you’ve watched Netflix’s The Gentlemen or HBO’s Succession, you know how powerful the inheritance storyline can be. The mystery creates suspense, and the reveal invites drama. However, your estate plan shouldn’t take lessons from these plot lines, says an article from mondaq, “Communicating Your Estate Plan: A Helpful Tool, Not A Fix-All.”

Whether to reveal the details of your estate plan should be preceded by another question: will being upfront with heirs and beneficiaries before you die reduce the likelihood of family fights and litigation, or will it create the conflict you were hoping to avoid?

While it’s best to be able to share your wishes, whether or not to communicate anything about your estate plan is entirely up to you. No one should feel they must share this information. Your estate planning attorney is ethically required to keep your discussions and any details confidential, even after you have passed.

Any person can modify their estate plan at any time, as long as they are competent and living. You can make any changes you want, even if you’ve told your beneficiaries one thing and then decide to do another. This may have negative consequences. However, you are legally allowed to do it.

Communication can take any form and be vague or specific. You could disclose the existence of an estate plan and inform heirs that it was carefully created based on your wishes and the advice of an estate planning attorney and any other tax and wealth advisers.

Sometimes, knowing a plan has been made with professional help can allay concerns from heirs. You might communicate the general framework of the estate plan, letting heirs understand who has been named for roles like Power of Attorney, Health Care Power of Attorney, Successor Trustee and Executor. It may be helpful to explain why you’ve made these decisions to avoid the “Mom would have never wanted this” arguments.

Things don’t always go as planned, however. If explanations are not consistent among heirs, there will be conflict. Even if explanations are consistent, there will be conflict in some families, no matter how clear you are with everyone.

In some cases, having your estate planning attorney convey details of your choosing to family members might be helpful. Learning this information from someone outside the family can be less triggering, particularly when the family respects the attorney as a skilled professional.

Should you tell beneficiaries their inheritance? Unfortunately, there are some families where transparency won’t preclude conflict. In these situations, sharing any details may create battles you may not want to be a part of or subject you to attempts to influence your decisions. This is something that each person has to consider. A frank conversation with your estate planning attorney about handling these issues will help you decide if or how much information to share with your family. If you would like to learn more about inheritance planning, please visit our previous posts.

Reference: mondaq (June 18, 2024) “Communicating Your Estate Plan: A Helpful Tool, Not A Fix-All”

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Inheriting Foreign Assets is Complex

July 1, 2024

An inheritance is almost always a mixture of happiness and sadness. You’re grieving the loss of a loved one at the same time you’ve received a financial bequest. Inheriting foreign assets from someone who lives outside of the country or from a non-U.S. citizen makes matters complex, says this recent article, “U.S. Tax: 4 Tips For Americans Receiving A Foreign Inheritance,” from Forbes.

There are certain IRS reporting requirements to be aware of, in addition to knowing what taxes you’ll be responsible for. Here are four top issues.

If the deceased person was a former American citizen and met specific requirements as a “covered expatriate” or “CE,” anyone receiving an inheritance must pay the IRS 40% of the inheritance. An estate planning attorney with experience in CE inheritances can help avoid or minimize this admittedly high level of taxes.

Even if the inheritance is not taxable, it must be reported to the IRS by the American recipient. If it is found to have been unreported, a 25% penalty will be levied. Your estate planning attorney will know how to report the inheritance using IRS Form 3520.

Depending on the type of asset inherited, there may be other reporting obligations. The Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) requires IRS Form 8938 to be filed if the total value of foreign financial assets is more than a specific threshold. The annual thresholds are lower for citizens who live in the U.S. than for Americans living abroad.

The U.S. tax basis must be accurately valued and documented when inheriting a foreign asset. The basis of a foreign asset from a CE will be “stepped up” to its fair market value as of the decedent’s death date. However, there are many nuances to this, and in some situations, there is no step-up.

Inheriting foreign assets is complex and requires the guidance of an experienced estate planning attorney to avoid significant taxes and penalties. If you know you’ll be inheriting assets from a CE, speak with an estate planning attorney to figure out what to do before and after the inheritance. If you would like to learn more about inheriting assets, please visit our previous posts.

Reference: Forbes (June 3, 2024) “U.S. Tax: 4 Tips For Americans Receiving A Foreign Inheritance”

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Creating a Trust to Avoid Probate Nightmares

June 25, 2024

Good estate planning ensures that your loved ones receive what you leave them without unnecessary delay or expense. However, that can go out the window when the procedure freezes your estate for months or years. Creating a trust to avoid probate nightmares can go a long way to help your loved ones once you pass.

Waiting months for probate can worsen the grief of losing a loved one. Look no further than the story of Penelope Ormerod, as told by The Guardian.

When Penelope Ormerod applied for probate on her late aunt’s estate, she expected a smooth process. Instead, she waited for seven months due to severe delays in the probate system. Recent reforms and centralization efforts had made the system more unresponsive and left her waiting. Beneficiaries, like her daughter Jessica, had dreams of funding their education on hold. This is one example of the turmoil that can ensue when your estate doesn’t avoid probate.

Trusts are powerful tools in estate planning that can prevent your family from going through similar probate ordeals. Setting up a trust means transferring your assets smoothly and quickly to your loved ones. While the traditional will process often requires probate, a trust operates outside this framework. In many cases, this saves time and reduces stress for your inheritors.

Trusts offer flexible, tailored methods for asset distribution. You can use a trust to give assets under various conditions or for specific purposes. You can establish trusts to provide your beneficiaries with lump sums or structured payouts. This ensures that beneficiaries like the Ormerod’s can avoid probate instead of waiting to receive their inheritance. Preventing delays in accessing an estate’s assets is particularly important for young families supporting minor children or ensuring that a family does not have to change their living arrangements due to court scrutiny of home ownership.

By avoiding probate, trusts can save your family stress, time and money. Probate fees and legal costs add up; setting up a trust can be a cost-effective way to pass on your assets. Trusts can also reduce tax liabilities and get more of your money to your loved ones.

Consider creating a trust so your family can receive their inheritance when you want them to, and avoid the nightmares of a probate. If you want to get started, contact an estate planning attorney. They’ll guide you through the options and help you ensure that your loved ones get what you leave them.

Key Takeaways:

Avoid Probate Delays: Trusts can bypass the lengthy and stressful probate process. As a result, your beneficiaries will receive assets sooner and without undue stress.

Flexible Distribution Options: Trusts provide various ways to distribute assets. Choose from lump sums, structured payouts and other options that best serve your loved ones.

Cost and Time Efficiency: Trustees can save on legal fees and court costs by avoiding probate through a trust. Trusts may also reduce tax liability for your beneficiaries.

Secure Your Legacy: Setting up a trust with the help of an estate planning attorney helps safeguard your wishes when you’re gone.

If you would like to learn more about probate, and how to avoid it, please visit our previous posts.

References: The Guardian (May 2, 2021) “Grieving relatives despair at months of waiting for probate”

SmartAsset (August 25, 2023) “How Does a Beneficiary Get Money From a Trust?”

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Should You have an Irrevocable Trust?

June 20, 2024

You may have heard the terms “revocable trusts” and “irrevocable trusts.” Both are created to hold assets for different purposes. Which is right for you? Should you have an irrevocable trust? The differences are explained in a recent article from Kiplinger, “With Irrevocable Trusts, It’s All About Who Has Control.”

Both types of trusts are separate legal entities created through contracts. They name a trustee who is in charge of the trust and its assets. The trustee is a fiduciary, having a legal obligation to manage the assets in the trust for the beneficiaries. Depending on how the trust is structured, these are the people who will receive assets or income generated by the assets in the trust.

With the revocable trust, the grantor—the person who creates the trust—can be a trustee and maintain total control of the trust. They can change the terms of the trust, beneficiaries, and successor trustees at any time. In exchange for this level of control, however, come some downsides. The revocable trust doesn’t have the same level of protection as an irrevocable trust while the grantor is living.

The irrevocable trust trades control for benefits. The grantor of an irrevocable trust can’t change the trust once it’s been created, nor can they move assets in and out of the trust at will. Beneficiaries may not be changed either. However, when the irrevocable trust is properly created with an experienced estate planning attorney, they achieve many estate and tax goals.

Your estate planning attorney will be able to explain which irrevocable trust suits your situation, as there are many different kinds.

An irrevocable trust where the grantor is also the beneficiary is referred to as a Domestic Asset Protection Trust or DAPT. The grantor is allowed to be the beneficiary of the trust, but it has to be created in one of the 20 jurisdictions where the grantor is allowed to be the beneficiary. You can have a trust created in a jurisdiction other than your own.

The first step is to determine how to fund an irrevocable trust, where assets are transferred into the trust. There are fine points here. For instance, you can’t fund an irrevocable trust if there are issues with the IRS or the threat of litigation from a creditor. If the dispute goes to court, a judge can set aside the transfers into the trust as they were made with the intent to circumvent a creditor’s claim under fraudulent transfer laws.

If a trust seems like the right planning structure for your assets, discuss with your estate planning attorney if you should have an irrevocable trust. Decisions about naming trustees, successor trustees, beneficiaries, and funding sources should be discussed with an experienced estate planning attorney first. Creating irrevocable trusts, like much of estate planning, needs to be completed before issues arise. If you would like to learn more about different types of trusts, please visit our previous posts.

Reference: Kiplinger (April 28, 2024) “With Irrevocable Trusts, It’s All About Who Has Control”

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Understanding Your Options and Responsibilities when Inheriting a House

June 4, 2024

Understanding your options and responsibilities is critical when inheriting a house, whether you sell it, keep it, or rent it out. Insights from LendingTree show you how to make the most of your inheritance. Inheriting a house can be a life-changing event with emotional and financial implications.

When inheriting a house, you don’t immediately receive the title in your name. The inheritance process involves probate, where a judge reviews the will and appoints an executor to carry out the deceased’s will. The executor handles responsibilities like insurance, identifying debts or liens and paying utilities. They also distribute belongings and manage property taxes. This ensures that the estate’s assets settle any outstanding debts before you receive ownership.

When you’re in line to inherit a home, there are five steps you should take immediately.

Communicate with the Executor: Establish a clear line of communication with the executor. This will help you learn the necessary information and simplify the transfer process.
Coordinate with Co-Heirs: Work with the others if you are one of several heirs. Avoid costly disputes by deciding whether to sell, keep, or rent the property.
Get an Appraisal: An appraisal calculates the property’s value. This informs your decision to keep, sell, or rent the home while informing you of tax liabilities.
Evaluate Debts: Identify any liens or debts tied to the property and compare them against the house’s value. Understand the financial implications and incorporate that into your decision.
Seek Professional Advice: Consult estate planning attorneys, accountants and financial advisors. These professionals can clarify ownership-related problems, such as debt obligations and inheritance taxes.

Moving into the inherited house can provide a new residence or vacation home. However, this option can be costly due to mortgages, taxes, repairs and insurance. Renting out the property can provide passive income, while keeping it in the family. Buy out other heirs or work with them to share costs and rental income. Selling the house is a straightforward way to obtain immediate cash. The proceeds can help pay off debts tied to the house, and the remaining proceeds will go to the heirs.

If debts and taxes are associated with the house, that doesn’t mean you need to sell. There are many ways to finance the home and keep your inheritance.

Mortgage Assumption: Take over the existing mortgage if its terms are better than what you’d get with a new loan. The lender must approve the assumption.
New Purchase or Refinance Mortgage: You can obtain a new mortgage or refinance to put the house in your name. This option is particularly useful when the property has a reverse mortgage.Prop
Cash-Out Refinance: Refinance the mortgage with a cash-out option to tap into the home’s equity to cover expenses, like buying out heirs or making repairs.
Investment Property Loan: Mortgage an investment property if you plan to rent the house.

Key Takeaways:

Inheriting a House: The probate court oversees the inheritance process, and the executor handles legal and financial responsibilities.
Options: Move in, rent out, or sell the property based on financial goals and agreements with co-heirs.
Financing: Explore mortgage assumptions, new or refinanced mortgages and other financing options.

Understanding your options and responsibilities when inheriting a house requires legal, financial and practical knowledge. Consult with an experienced estate planning attorney as soon as you can. If you would like to learn more about inheriting property, please visit our previous posts.

Reference: LendingTree (Nov. 16, 2021) “Inheriting a House? Here’s What to Expect”

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Updating Beneficiaries after Gray Divorce

May 30, 2024

Navigating the complexities of estate planning after a mid- to late-life divorce, or “gray divorce,” requires meticulous attention to detail and proactive measures, according to Kiplinger’s article, Don’t Forget to Update Beneficiaries After a Gray Divorce. Updating beneficiaries after a gray divorce is critical to estate planning. This article explores essential considerations for those undergoing a gray divorce, emphasizing the importance of reevaluating estate plans to reflect current intentions and relationships.

While family law attorneys primarily focus on asset division during divorce proceedings, it’s imperative to consider the fate of these assets post-divorce, particularly concerning beneficiaries. Updating beneficiaries on investment accounts, retirement funds and life insurance policies is paramount. Failure to do so could result in unintended consequences, potentially leaving assets to a former spouse.

Many states have statutes that automatically revoke a former spouse as a beneficiary post-divorce. However, these laws vary, and some exceptions exist, notably under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) plans. Understanding the nuances of state laws and ERISA regulations is vital to ensure compliance and avoid costly mistakes.

In some divorces, waivers might be used in decrees to address survivorship benefits related to retirement plans. The effectiveness of these waivers relies on adherence to plan documents and detailed planning. Consulting with a knowledgeable estate planning attorney and incorporating specific language in property settlement agreements can mitigate risks and ensure comprehensive protection of assets.

Key Takeaways:

Proactive Approach: Do not wait until after your divorce is finalized to update your beneficiaries. Proactively review and revise beneficiary designations on all relevant accounts.
Understanding State Laws: Familiarize yourself with your state’s automatic revocation laws and how they affect beneficiary designations. Ensure that these laws align with your post-divorce intentions.
Consulting with Professionals: Consult with an experienced estate planning attorney to navigate the complexities of beneficiary updates and ensure compliance with state laws and ERISA regulations.
Detailed Planning: Use specific language in property settlement agreements to address survivorship benefits associated with retirement plans and other assets. Attention to detail is essential to avoid potential conflicts and ensure that your wishes are upheld.

In conclusion, updating beneficiaries after a gray divorce is critical to estate planning. By taking proactive measures, understanding relevant laws and seeking professional guidance, you can protect your assets and secure the financial future of your loved ones. Ready to embark on your post-divorce estate planning journey? Schedule a consultation today and gain peace of mind knowing that your assets are in trusted hands. If you would like to learn more about divorce and reevaluating your estate planning, please visit our previous posts.

Reference: Kiplinger (April 15, 2024) “Don’t Forget to Update Beneficiaries After a Gray Divorce”

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Maximizing Tax-Free Giving to Children

May 21, 2024

In the ever-evolving landscape of wealth management, affluent estate owners choose to support their children and grandchildren financially during their lifetimes. While the desire to make a positive impact is evident, navigating the tax implications of such generosity can be complex. Fortunately, several strategies exist to facilitate tax-efficient giving, while maximizing the benefits for donors and recipients. Based on Kiplinger’s article, “Three Ways to Give to Your Kids Tax-Free While You’re Still Alive,” we explore three strategies that can maximize tax-free giving to children in your estate planning.

One estate planning strategy leverages possible tax breaks on capital gains. Beneficiaries of assets that increase in value have traditionally received a break if the IRS calculates capital gains tax based on the inherited value, not when the decedent purchased the asset. The inherited asset’s higher valuation is considered a “stepped-up cost basis” and lowers capital gains tax on any increase in value.

You can give to your children during your lifetime and get capital gains tax breaks if the recipient’s taxable income falls below certain thresholds. If a single child’s taxable income is below $47,025 or a married child’s is below $94,050, they may pay zero capital gains tax upon selling the asset. Note that these tax breaks apply to capital gains. Estate taxes are a different story.

The gift tax exclusion allows individuals and married couples to give money to a child and maximize tax efficiency. Individuals can contribute money to a child’s college education or the down payment on a home as a gift. In 2024, the exclusion amount is $18,000 per recipient or $36,000 for married couples engaging in split gifts. With the lifetime federal exclusion set at $13.61 million per person, most individuals can engage in tax-free giving without exceeding their lifetime allowance.

Specific expenditures, such as educational or medical expenses and direct payments to institutions, are excluded from the annual gift limit and lifetime exclusion. This direct payment strategy allows donors to support significant financial obligations, such as college tuition or medical bills, without impacting their gifting allowances. Donors can provide meaningful support to their children and grandchildren while minimizing tax implications.

While maximizing tax-free giving is essential, assessing the broader impact of financial support on recipients is essential. By incorporating gifts into a comprehensive financial plan, donors can align their generosity with their financial objectives and ensure sustainable support for future generations.

Key Tax-Free Giving to Children Takeaways:

Giving to a Child Tax-Free: Take advantage of tax breaks to give to a child in your lifetime.
Giving in Your Lifetime: Maximize the tax advantage of giving money to a child during your lifetime.
Paying for College: Transferring money directly to a child’s college does not impact the gift tax exclusion limit.

Maximizing tax-free giving allows affluent parents to support their children and grandchildren, while minimizing tax liabilities. Implement gifting strategies and consider the broader financial impact to leave a lasting legacy and support loved ones. If you would like to learn more about minimizing taxes in your estate planning, please visit our previous posts.

Reference: Kiplinger (April 10, 2024) “Three Ways to Give to Your Kids Tax-Free While You’re Still Alive,”

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Estate Planning for Veterans and Active Military Is Important

May 7, 2024

Your dedication to your country is unwavering as a veteran or active military service member. While you’re committed to your duty, you must protect yourself and your loved ones and preserve your legacy. Veterans and active military personnel can and should create an estate plan to match their unique needs. Based on Trust & Will’s article, “Estate Planning for Veterans & Active Military,” we look at why estate planning for veterans and active military personnel is so important.

Military life is marked by unpredictability and uncertainty for you and your family, making estate planning a vital aspect of preparing for the future. Many individuals have plans to distribute funds and appoint trusted loved ones to handle medical and financial matters if the unthinkable happens. Estate planning is essential to help provide for your loved ones if you pass away or are incapacitated. Knowing that your family will be cared for can give you peace of mind.

A will serves as a cornerstone of your estate plan, allowing you to:

Protect Your Family: Specify guardianship for minor children, ensuring they’re cared for by trusted individuals in your absence.
Distribute Assets Seamlessly: Designate beneficiaries and outline asset distribution instructions, including real estate, retirement and financial accounts, sentimental items, and other property.
Plan for the Unexpected: Outline your preferences for medical care and end-of-life decisions to prepare for unforeseen circumstances.

In the military, adaptability is critical, but so is ensuring your affairs are managed in your absence. Powers of Attorney enable you to:

Delegate Your Decisions: If you are incapacitated, designate trusted individuals to handle your legal, financial, and medical decisions.
Manage Your Affairs: Maintain continuity in managing assets, paying bills, and making critical decisions, even during deployments or periods of incapacity.
Mitigate Financial Risk: Protect against financial exploitation and past-due bills by appointing reliable agents to act in your best interests.

For military families, asset protection and efficient wealth transfer are paramount. Trusts offer a range of benefits, including:

Asset Preservation: Safeguard assets during incapacity or deployment, ensuring financial stability for your family.
Probate Avoidance: Streamline the distribution of assets to beneficiaries, bypassing the lengthy and costly probate process.
Tax Efficiency: Minimize estate taxes and maximize tax savings, preserving more of your hard-earned assets for future generations.

Your dedication and sacrifice are unmatched as a veteran or active military service member. That is why estate planning is so important for veterans and active military personnel. By prioritizing estate planning and including will, trust, and power of attorney strategies, you can protect your loved ones and preserve your legacy for generations. Consult with an experienced estate planning attorney for peace of mind. If you would like to learn more about planning for veterans, please visit our previous posts.

Reference: Trust & Will “Estate Planning for Veterans & Active Military,”

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Avoiding Trouble with Your Trustee

April 25, 2024

Estate planning and elder law considerations linger in the background of our senior years. We plan for senior living, incapacity, and Medicaid. We create an estate plan to protect and preserve your wealth and provide for heirs after you are gone. Trusts are a smart and well-known estate planning tool that names or appoints a trustee to administer and distribute the assets according to the terms. However, how often do estate owners ask, “What if something goes wrong and the trustee breaches their duties?” This blog offers tips on avoiding trouble with your trustee.

The case discussed in WealthCounsel’s article, “Trustee of Living Trust Who Was Beneficiary of Decedent’s Residuary Estate Had Duty to Collect and Protect Assets Not Yet Transferred to Trust,” reminds us to take steps in appointing the right trustee and to draft the trust’s terms carefully.

The case discussed in WealthCounsel’s article involved three beneficiaries, three co-trustees and assets meant for a restated revocable trust. One of the trustees did not collect and protect untransferred trust assets. The deceased’s three children and their mother sued that trustee for breaching fiduciary duty.

The Barash v. Lembo case underscores a critical aspect of trusteeship: the duty to protect and collect assets awaiting transfer into the trust designated for distribution from the trust. Despite the probate process, trustees must proactively preserve trust assets, even before their transfer.

In this case, the Connecticut Supreme Court emphasized that trustees are entrusted with a fiduciary duty from the moment of acceptance. This duty extends to diligently administering the trust in the beneficiaries’ best interests, including the prudent collection and protection of assets.

Central to the trustee’s role is the obligation to uncover and address breaches of fiduciary duty by prior fiduciaries. Whether it’s compelling the transfer of assets or rectifying breaches, trustees must act in the trust’s best interests.

When a testamentary trust emerges as a will beneficiary, trustees are tasked with pursuing reasonable claims against the estate executor. This duty demands due diligence in securing all trust assets and ensuring comprehensive asset management.

While a duty of due diligence binds trustees, evaluating their performance hinges on contextual considerations. All trustee’s actions are scrutinized within the framework of trust administration dynamics, emphasizing the need for meticulous asset management.

In Barash v. Lembo, the court’s ruling underscores the significance of trustees’ proactive engagement in protecting and collecting trust assets. Trustees must exercise diligence and vigilance, leveraging legal avenues to preserve beneficiaries’ interests.

In your pursuit of avoiding trouble with your trustee, partner with a seasoned estate planning attorney who understands the intricacies of trust administration. If you would like to learn more about trustees and trust administration, please visit our previous posts.

Reference: WealthCounsel (Jan 19, 2024) “Trustee of Living Trust Who Was Beneficiary of Decedent’s Residuary Estate Had Duty to Collect and Protect Assets Not Yet Transferred to Trust.”

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Category: Inheritance

Sometimes, a Professional Trustee is a Good Idea

Should You Tell Beneficiaries Their Inheritance?

Inheriting Foreign Assets is Complex

Creating a Trust to Avoid Probate Nightmares

Should You have an Irrevocable Trust?

Understanding Your Options and Responsibilities when Inheriting a House

Updating Beneficiaries after Gray Divorce

Maximizing Tax-Free Giving to Children

Estate Planning for Veterans and Active Military Is Important

Avoiding Trouble with Your Trustee

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