Helpful Trust & Probate Blog Articles
How to Plan Your Funeral in Your Estate Documents
Funerals are important to people because they celebrate their lives and shape how their friends and family will remember them
Choosing Your Advocate: What to Look For in an Inheritance Litigation Lawyer When You’re the Trustee
When serving as a trustee, choosing the right inheritance litigation lawyer is crucial to ensure the trust is administered properly and legal obligations are met. Trustees have a fiduciary duty to act in the best interests of the beneficiaries, and mistakes can lead to personal liability. Therefore, selecting an attorney with the right experience and approach is essential.
Sued by a Beneficiary? A Trustee’s First 5 Steps to Protect the Trust (and Yourself)
Depending on the facts and circumstances of a case, a trustee could end up being held personally liable for the trust’s losses. If a trustee has been found to have breached their fiduciary duties, they may end up having to pay for the losses out of their own pocket.
3 Key Provisions in Your Financial Power of Attorney
The financial power of attorney is one of the most crucial estate planning tools. With this document, you can name a trusted decision-maker (known as your agent) to act in your place should you ever become incapacitated or otherwise unable to manage your financial affairs.
Is Your Estate Plan Complete?
Statistics show that roughly two thirds of Americans do not have an estate plan in place. Even if you’re in the minority of people who do have an estate plan, it’s possible that your estate plan lacks critical components. It’s crucial to review your estate plan regularly, updating and revising it as needed. As you do so, ensure you consult with an estate planning attorney who can help you identify any missing elements.
What Happens When the Trust and Transfer on Death Instructions on Accounts are Different?
In an ideal estate planning scenario, a living trust is fully funded with assets, allowing the entire estate to pass to beneficiaries without dispute or need for probate court. Sadly, this is not always how things work out. Sometimes there may be a discrepancy between the living trust provisions and the Transfer on Death indication of an old investment or banking account.