Estate Planning is Critical for a Single Parent

August 15, 2024

Raising a child or children by yourself is challenging on many levels. Single parents have very little spare time or resources. Estate planning is critical for a single parent, even more than if another parent was involved, as discussed in a recent article from The News-Enterprise, “Single parents must be deliberate in estate planning.”

Two key decisions to be made with minor children are who to name in a will as their guardian, the person who will raise them if the parent dies or is incapacitated, and who will be in charge of their finances. If another biological parent is involved in their care, things can get complicated.

Whether or not the other parent will be named as a guardian who will take custody of the child(ren) depends on whether or not they have any legal custody of the children. If the parents were married at one time but the marriage ended after the child was born, there is likely to be a separation agreement addressing custody.

If both parents share custody, the surviving parent would take custody of the child. This is standard practice, regardless of who has primary custody.

But if the parents never married and no one pursued an order of paternity or entered a custody order recognizing the legal rights of the noncustodial parent, or if a parent has lost any legal rights to the child, the parent needs to name a guardian and an alternate guardian.

Even if there is a surviving parent, you’ll want to name at least one guardian and one contingent guardian. There are instances when the noncustodial parent prefers not to become the custodial parent, even if the child’s other parent has died. There are also cases where the noncustodial parent is not fit to raise a child, so having other potential guardians named is a better idea.

Separate from the guardianship issue is the decision of who should manage the assets left for the child. You have a right to name the person of your choice to oversee these funds, regardless of whether or not the other parent is living. In most cases, there are two general options:

Conservator: This is a court-appointed person who is responsible for any assets left outside of a trust or any income received by the child. The conservator can be the same person as the guardian, but it does not have to be the same.

Trustee: A best practice in estate planning for a child is to leave the property in trust to be distributed for specific purposes, like education, health care, and general support. Assets can be left in trust through a last will and testament or through a trust set up while the parent is living to benefit the child.

Estate planning is critical for a single parent. An estate planning attorney should be consulted to determine how best to structure planning when there is only one parent. This protects the child and gives the parent peace of mind. If you would like to learn more about planning as a single parent, please visit our previous posts.

Reference: The News-Enterprise (July 5, 2024) “Single parents must be deliberate in estate planning”

Image by Marcela

Successor Trustee is an Important Element of a Revocable Trust

August 12, 2024

Creating a revocable trust can be a smart way to manage how your assets are distributed after you pass away. One important element of a revocable trust is the successor trustee. SmartAsset makes the case that you should name one if you have any revocable trusts. This can help carry out your wishes when you’re indisposed or deceased.

When you set up a revocable trust, you serve as both the creator (settlor) and the trustee. This means you can move assets in and out of the trust, change its terms and even dissolve it. The trust is “revocable” because you can change it while alive.

A successor trustee is the person you name to manage your trust when you can no longer do so, typically upon your death. The successor trustee enforces the terms of the trust and distributes assets according to your wishes.

A successor trustee can manage your trust without probate court intervention. Once you, as the primary trustee, pass away, the successor trustee can immediately manage your trust and avoid any delay in execution.

The duties of a successor trustee begin once you can no longer serve as the trustee, typically upon your death. Their responsibilities include:

Managing Trust Assets: The successor trustee must responsibly manage and invest the trust assets.
Appraising and Distributing Assets: They must appraise the value of the trust’s assets, pay any taxes or debts and distribute the remaining assets to the beneficiaries according to the trust’s terms.
Handling Administrative Tasks: If the trust includes life insurance policies, the successor trustee must collect these. They also set aside funds for any expenses related to the trust’s administration.

An executor is responsible for managing your estate through the probate process after you die. This includes locating and collecting assets, paying debts and taxes and distributing the remaining assets as directed by your will. This role ends once the probate process is complete.

A successor trustee manages your trust according to its terms and does not need court approval for their actions. Their responsibilities can last much longer, especially if the trust specifies conditions for distributing assets over time.

In the case of irrevocable trusts, you cannot serve as your own trustee. You instead appoint someone else to manage the trust. If this original trustee can no longer serve, a successor trustee takes over. The duties and powers of a successor trustee in an irrevocable trust are the same as those of the original trustee.

Selecting the right person to serve as your successor trustee is vital. This person should be trustworthy, competent and preferably younger to ensure that they can manage the trust for many years, if needed. This role can be demanding, so choosing someone to handle the responsibilities is important.

Appointing a successor trustee is an important element of a revocable trust. It prevents any delay in your trust going into effect. If you’re considering setting up a revocable trust or need help to appoint a successor trustee, an experienced estate planning attorney can help. If you would like to learn more about the role of the trustee, please visit our previous posts.

Reference: SmartAsset (May 30, 2023) “Successor Trustee: Duties, Powers and More”

Image by Shelley Wiart

Medicaid Asset Protection Trust can help with Long Term Care Costs

August 7, 2024

The numbers are clear: 70% of Americans expect to need long-term care at some point in their retirement. Many people aren’t aware of the importance of long-term care until they are uninsurable because of health conditions or can’t afford the premiums. How can you plan? A Medicaid Asset Protection Trust can help with long term care costs.

Depending upon where you live and the type of care needed, long-term care costs anywhere from $50,000 to $100,000 per year. With an average stay of two to five years, it’s a hefty financial burden without long-term care insurance, a MAPT, and good planning.

Creating a Medicaid Asset Protection Trust requires the help of an experienced estate planning attorney to be sure you obtain all of the benefits of such a trust. Long-term care costs are one of the biggest financial worries for retirees, as noted in a recent article, “This Trust Can Protect Your Assets From Long-Term Care Costs,” from Kiplinger.

The Medicaid Asset Protection Trust (MAPT) moves money out of your estate into a trust, so it becomes uncountable for Medicaid means-testing purposes. It has to be created and funded at least five years before the applicant can be deemed eligible for Medicaid funding, known as the “Medicaid look-back.”

The trust needs to be set up by an experienced estate planning attorney because there are many fine points to consider. The MAPT won’t serve its intended purpose if it’s not set up correctly.

The MAPT must be an irrevocable trust, meaning the grantor (who set up the trust) no longer has access to those assets. This can be a little unnerving. You’ll also want to speak with your estate planning attorney about your plans for the near and distant future. How will you access funds if you’re putting funds into the trust? Who will be able to access them?

This trust will also benefit families with assets closer to the old estate tax levels. In 2024, the gift and estate tax exemptions are still very high—$13.61 million. However, if the law sunsets without Congress acting, the estate tax could revert to around $5 million or lower if the federal government decides more wealth needs to be taxed. Assets in a trust are not part of the taxable estate, so having a trust also protects assets from federal and state estate taxes.

Trusts are also powerful means of controlling asset distribution. Your MAPT could distribute a set amount of money to a beneficiary throughout their lifetime, or a minor grandchild could be given a certain amount after they’ve completed four years of college or achieved a particular goal.

Consult an estate planning attorney to learn how a Medicaid Asset Protection Trust can help with long term care costs, if they’re right for you, and how to get started. If you would like to learn more about managing assets for long term care, please visit our previous posts.

Reference: Kiplinger (July 11, 2024) “This Trust Can Protect Your Assets From Long-Term Care Costs”

Photo by T Leish

Ensure your College-Bound Student has Documents in Order

August 5, 2024

Sending your child to college is a major milestone but comes with important legal considerations. Now that they live independently, handling a medical emergency could be much more complicated. The Wall Street Journal makes the case that, as parents, you must ensure your college-bound student has their documents in order. This way, you can help them if they need it in any situation.

When your child turns 18, you lose access to their medical, financial, or academic records. You could face significant hurdles in helping them during emergencies without the proper legal documents. There are four essential legal documents.

A HIPAA waiver allows your child to grant you access to their medical records. Without this form, healthcare providers cannot share any medical information with you due to privacy laws. This waiver ensures that you stay informed about your child’s health and can make informed decisions in a medical emergency.

A medical power of attorney designates someone to make medical decisions on your child’s behalf if they cannot. If your child becomes incapacitated due to illness or injury, you’ll need this document to manage their care. Families without a medical power of attorney will have to delegate important healthcare decisions to people they don’t know.

With a durable power of attorney, you can manage your child’s financial affairs if they cannot do so. This can include paying bills, handling bank accounts, and managing investments. This document is particularly important if your child is studying abroad or becomes incapacitated.

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) protects the privacy of student education records. A FERPA waiver allows your child to grant you access to their academic records. This can be important if you need to stay informed about their academic progress or assist in managing their education.

Without these legal documents, you could face significant challenges in assisting your child. For instance, you could be unable to learn about your child’s condition if they become hospitalized. You would also be unable to make decisions on their behalf to manage their care or finances.

Most of these documents can be obtained online for free or through your attorney. Ensuring that the forms meet your state’s legal requirements is essential. Some documents may require notarization. Here’s a brief guide on how to obtain each:

HIPAA Waiver: Available online or from your child’s healthcare provider.
Medical Power of Attorney: Available online, but ensure it complies with state-specific laws.
Durable Power of Attorney: Obtained from an attorney to ensure it meets state legal standards.
FERPA Waiver: Available through your child’s college or university.

The requirements for legal documents for college students can vary by state. If your child is attending college out of state, you may need to prepare valid documents for your home state and the state where your child studies. Consulting with an attorney helps properly prepare and execute all documents.

A durable power of attorney becomes even more critical if your child studies abroad. This document ensures you can manage their financial matters and make decisions on their behalf if they encounter issues while overseas.

Preparing these essential legal documents ensures your college-bound student has their documents in order and gives you peace of mind. Don’t wait until an emergency arises; take action now. If you would like to learn more about planning for college age children, please visit our previous posts.

Reference: WSJ (Aug. 14, 2023) “Before Your Child Goes to College, Complete These 6 Important Documents – WSJ”

Image by Gerd Altmann

Addressing your Estate Planning during Divorce is Critical

July 31, 2024

When estate planning dovetails with divorce, existing plans need to be redesigned. How much depends on the nature of the divorce, as explained by a recent article from Accounting Today, “Estate planning for divorcing couples.” Spousal rights, beneficiary designations, child custody and property distribution all need to be examined, as well as the distribution of property in the estate plan. Addressing your estate planning during a divorce is critical.

If this is your situation, you’ll need a team of professionals who can work well together. Your estate planning attorney, accountant and divorce attorney will need to be in frequent contact, as so many of these areas overlap. You’ll want to ensure that your separation agreement and estate plan complement each other. Anticipating potential challenges and obstacles in advance is crucial.

Here are a few aspects to consider:

If your estate planning attorney worked with you and the person you are divorcing, they will want to be clear about who they represent for the new estate plan. If it’s an amenable divorce, the estate planning attorney may recommend a respected colleague to help the other spouse.

The same scenario must be considered for the accountant. Did they interface with one spouse more than the other? If a joint return was filed in the past, which spouse would they work with during the divorce and afterward? An accountant’s involvement in an estate plan during the divorce process may be critical to ensuring that there are no discrepancies in the financials.

Beneficiary designations need to be revisited since, in most cases, spouses name each other as beneficiaries. Updating the beneficiary designation will avoid further complications in distributing the assets if something occurs to one of the spouses while the divorce is in process. Beneficiaries only change when the owner of the account actively makes the change. Your soon-to-be-ex may inherit everything if you don’t change the account beneficiary.

Estate planning involves guardianship for minor children, and divorce typically addresses child custody, support and inheritance. If one of the parents dies, who would get custody of the children? How will they be supported? Life insurance may be part of the separation agreement, where the ex-spouse will still be the beneficiary, so funds may be used to support the minor children.

Couples in the process of divorcing may not create new trusts until the divorce proceedings have been finalized. However, suppose trusts were established as part of estate planning before the divorce. In that case, they may be considered marital or separate property, depending on the source of the assets in the trust. This is a conversation to have with your estate planning attorney.

Addressing your estate planning during a divorce is critical. With the guidance of an experienced estate planning attorney, accountant and divorce attorney, it is possible to move through the tumult and begin the next chapter with some peace of mind. If you would like to learn more about planning during or after a divorce, please visit our previous posts.

Reference: Accounting Today (July 5, 2024) “Estate planning for divorcing couples”

Image by Tumisu

Avoid Using AI to Create a DIY Estate Plan

July 30, 2024

Estate planning is crucial to carry out your wishes after you’re gone. However, with the rise of artificial intelligence (AI), some wonder if it can bypass traditional methods. Some people have used AI tools to create DIY estate plans that look good to the untrained eye but have serious shortcomings. Avoid using AI to create a DIY estate plan.

Artificial intelligence refers to computer programs that use complex algorithms to perform tasks usually requiring human intelligence. AI tools like ChatGPT and Google Gemini have recently become widely available. Creative writers and many others use these tools for help with research, drafting documents and other purposes. You would think a DIY estate plan with AI could work. However, a close examination reveals its shortcomings.

If you’re comfortable writing a document, you can use AI to assist in drafting. This could help in documents, like wills and powers of attorney, by generating them from information you provide. For most people, though, this would do more harm than good. It’s necessary to understand the limitations and risks of AI in estate planning.

While ChatGPT and other chatbots are impressive tools, they lack true intelligence. This can often make DIY estate plans with AI no better than having no estate plan at all.

Lack of Critical Thinking: AI lacks the ability to think critically. It uses pre-fed data to generate responses, which can lead to inaccuracies. For example, AI might misinterpret your instructions or miss important details about your estate.
Hallucinations: AI can “hallucinate,” or produce entirely fictional information. There have been cases where AI-generated legal documents contained fabricated cases and statutes. This can render AI-based legal documents completely invalid, with severe consequences.
Incomplete Customization: Estate plans need to be highly personalized. AI might not consider all personal details, such as the specific needs of your family members or your unique financial situation. This could result in a plan that doesn’t reflect your wishes.

When you input personal data into an AI tool, there’s a risk of confidentiality breaches. AI systems store this information, which others can potentially access. This raises significant privacy concerns, since a data breach could expose sensitive information about your family and assets.

AI might seem like a cost-effective solution compared to hiring an attorney. However, the likely risks and inaccuracies can be devastatingly costly in the long run. Errors in your estate plan can result in legal disputes, probate battles and avoidable tax burdens.

Estate planning attorneys bring a level of expertise and personal touch that AI cannot match. They can:

Ensure that all legal documents are accurate and tailored to your needs.
Provide critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
Address complex family dynamics and financial situations.
Guarantee confidentiality and privacy of your personal information.
Offer ongoing support and updates to your estate plan as laws and personal circumstances change.

The American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC) reports that a New York lawyer used AI to find case law for his case. However, they discovered the cases were entirely fabricated, and he soon faced sanctions. A Florida attorney similarly faced suspension for submitting AI-generated pleadings with non-existent cases. Despite the progress in AI, these tools remain inadequate for legal purposes.

AI lacks the human element necessary for comprehensive estate planning. Human attorneys understand the nuances of the law with true understanding that AI simply cannot replicate. Furthermore, a human attorney brings interpersonal skills and business experience to your estate planning. They can foresee potential issues with your family and new developments in the law to create a comprehensive, enforceable estate plan.

Avoid using AI to create a DIY estate plan. While AI can help draft simple documents, it is not a substitute for an estate planning attorney’s expertise. The risks of inaccuracies, lack of customization and potential privacy breaches make it unreliable. A skilled estate planning attorney is needed to create a comprehensive and accurate estate plan. If you would like to learn more about the risks of DIY estate planning, please visit our previous posts.

Reference: American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC) (Apr. 18, 2024) ”Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Creating an Estate Plan”

Photo by Pixabay

Naming Guardians for Minor Children Is Critical for Parents

July 23, 2024

Naming guardians for your minor children is one of the most critical estate planning decisions for parents. It ensures that someone you trust will care for your children in the manner you prefer if you are no longer able to do so. Failing to choose a guardian can make your passing even harder on your children.

An insightful article from Slate tells of an unplanned guardianship situation. As the story goes, a couple in their 60s had decided not to have children but found themselves as the only available guardians for a great-nephew. The child’s mother passed away, his father was in prison and no one else was available. This forced the couple to fill the needs of a grieving 10-year-old from a different socioeconomic background. While they told of doing their best, it was hard for them and their great-nephew. This story emphasizes the unpredictability of life and the critical nature of having a guardianship plan in place.

An article from Forbes highlights a range of considerations for choosing a guardian. You must consider not just who loves your children but also who can handle the responsibility. Consider their lifestyle, location, values, and the potential guardian’s family dynamics. Are they prepared to take on the emotional and financial responsibility of raising children?

Who would be the first to step in and care for your children in an emergency? Sometimes, the best choice for a guardian might not be immediate family but a close friend or someone who has always been part of your children’s lives.

If your child is old enough, their opinion might be helpful. Asking them could provide insights into who they would be comfortable living with should anything happen to you.

Without a will specifying a guardian for minor children, the courts will decide who will care for your children. This situation can lead to outcomes you might never have intended. By choosing a guardian yourself, you control the process and ensure that your children’s future is in the hands of someone you trust.

Absolutely. Your decision today isn’t set in stone. People’s circumstances and relationships change, and your estate plan, including guardianship decisions, should be reviewed and can be revised as needed.

Becoming a guardian on short notice can be overwhelming. It’s crucial to consider the emotional and psychological support the child will need, such as counseling, and the practical aspects, like schooling and healthcare. Understanding the child’s background and needs will help smooth their transition into your family.

It’s never too early to plan for the future of your minor children. Naming guardians for your minor children is critical for parents, and requires thoughtful consideration and difficult conversations. If you would like to learn more about guardianship, please visit our previous posts.

References: Forbes (Jan. 29, 2020) “10 Tips for Choosing a Guardian for Your Minor Child” and Slate (Jan. 17, 2022) “A Child Has Suddenly Come Into My Care”

Image by Shelley Wiart

If you are Leaving Property Behind, Consider a Land Trust

July 22, 2024

Estate planning can be complex. However, understanding the available tools can make it easier to protect your assets and provide for your beneficiaries. If you are leaving property behind, consider a land trust.

A land trust is a legal agreement where one party (the trustee) holds the title to the property for the benefit of another party (the beneficiary). This setup can offer privacy, ease of transfer and protection from creditors.

Land trusts offer several benefits:

Privacy: The property owner’s name isn’t on public records.
Control: The beneficiary can direct how the property is managed.
Protection: It can shield assets from certain legal actions.

A land trust can name virtually anyone as a beneficiary, including individuals, businesses and even other trusts. This flexibility makes land trusts a valuable tool for personalized estate planning strategies. Almost any type of real estate can be placed in a land trust. The eligible real estate types include residential homes, commercial buildings, farmland and vacant land.

Creating a land trust involves several steps:

Consult an Attorney: Get professional advice to ensure that a land trust fits your needs.
Draft the Trust Agreement: Outline the terms, including who will be the trustee and beneficiaries.
Transfer the Property: Deed the property to the trustee.

When Mr. and Mrs. Wilson decided to buy a vacation home, they wanted to keep their ownership private and ensure that the property would easily pass to their children. They opted for a land trust. The trust kept their names off public records, providing the privacy they desired. When Mr. Wilson faced a personal lawsuit, the vacation home was protected because it was held in the trust. Their children, named as beneficiaries, will smoothly inherit the property since it will avoid probate.

If you value privacy and have property, a land trust might be right for you. It’s especially useful for those who own multiple properties or wish to keep their ownership details confidential.

A land trust could be the solution if you want to protect your privacy, shield your property from creditors, or ensure a smooth transfer to your beneficiaries. It offers flexibility and control, making it a valuable tool in estate planning.

Planning your estate involves making important decisions about your assets and beneficiaries. If you are leaving property to your loved ones, consider a land trust as a valuable tool to leverage. If you would like to learn more about different types of trusts, please visit our previous posts.

Reference: Investopedia (April11, 2024) “Land Trust: What It Is, How It Works, Types, and Examples”

Image by Henry Gartley

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?”

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio

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”

Photo by Gustavo Fring

Blog Articles

Estate Planning is Critical for a Single Parent

Successor Trustee is an Important Element of a Revocable Trust

Reference: SmartAsset (May 30, 2023) “Successor Trustee: Duties, Powers and More”

Medicaid Asset Protection Trust can help with Long Term Care Costs

Ensure your College-Bound Student has Documents in Order

Addressing your Estate Planning during Divorce is Critical

Avoid Using AI to Create a DIY Estate Plan

Naming Guardians for Minor Children Is Critical for Parents

If you are Leaving Property Behind, Consider a Land Trust

Sometimes, a Professional Trustee is a Good Idea

Should You Tell Beneficiaries Their Inheritance?

Categories

View Blog Archives

Watch the

Estate Of The Union

Join Our

eNewsletter and Blog Digest List

Listen to the

Estate Of The Union

Texas Trust Law

Quick Links

Connect With Us