According to the National Association of Home Builders, in 2018 there were approximately 7.5 million second homes, making up 5.5 percent of the total number of homes.[1] These pieces of vacation property are not only real estate that must be planned for, managed, and maintained, they are also the birthplace of happy memories for you and […]
A spouse’s death creates a difficult and demanding time for the surviving partner. As much as you might want space and time alone to process your grief, you may have certain responsibilities related to settling their affairs, including paying off spouse’s debts. Most Americans have some type of debt. The obligation to pay debts does not […]
The divorce process can be long and expensive. Getting the final decree is the end of one big effort, which probably felt exhausting. Yet, the work doesn’t end once the divorce decree is signed. Once you have gotten divorced, it’s prudent to update your estate plan. More Work After Divorce? Why Bother? A divorce has a […]
As parents age and their physical and mental capacities diminish, it is natural for their adult children (recognizing the parents’ decreasing ability to care for themselves) to step in and help them. Often, a specific child will take over the bulk of the responsibilities, such as taking the parent to doctor’s appointments or the attorney’s office. […]
Not only is Disney’s award-winning animated film Encanto hugely entertaining, it also contains the following valuable estate planning lessons: Leaving a family legacy is important and can have an impact beyond your immediate family. Be sure to consider the significance of multigenerational planning. Treating each beneficiary as a unique person is essential. Naming the “strongest” child […]
There’s really only one thing you can be certain about in this world, that things change. If your life or the law has changed since you signed your will or trust agreement, you need to update your estate plan. You can make updates to a revocable living trust by way of an amendment or a complete […]
Most American strive to earn a decent-sized paycheck to support themselves and their families when they go to work. Stay-at-home parents, however, work to provide valuable nonfinancial contributions to their families everyday. They make sure that the home runs smoothly and that their family members have what they need to be successful and happy. If something […]
The American Dream envisions home ownership for everyone. And most of us save for this purchase with the thought of passing it on to our families one day. But questions about ownership and how it’s passed on are pretty common. Questions like, “If I give my home to my child in my will, can they take […]
