Do You Know What the “Other Hand” is Doing in Handling Your Estate?
You manage most of the bill payments and banking. Your spouse covers the insurance and investment accounts.
It’s a common practice in many married households to split household responsibilities. Usually a partner’s skills or knowledge...
Here’s Why You Should Keep Track of Your Subscription-Based Services.
It’s easy to overlook the need to keep track of monthly services or subscriptions. Especially when you don’t have to consciously make a payment since automatic billing is doing that task for you. When...
Saving for Your Child’s Education With a Section 529 Plan
Q. It's time for us to begin saving for our child's education. We've heard a great deal about Section 529 plans. What are the advantages?
A. The advantages can be significant. Section 529 plans include both...
What You Should Know About Special Needs Trusts
Bequeathing assets to a loved one with special needs is a benevolent gesture, but in some cases, it can cause problems that were never intended.
An inheritance can disqualify the disabled person from government needs-based aid...
Getting Your Records Organized is More Important Than You Think
Keeping track of important papers is critical to maintaining an accurate picture of your finances and ensuring that your heirs are cared for in the way you want. The paper trail that follows us throughout our...
Concerned about Fido’s Care? Consider a Pet Trust
Pets are often considered family members, yet many owners don't plan for their future in the event of death or incapacitation. What happens to these well-loved and orphaned animals if there's no one to...
Special Needs Trust: What Expenses Can It Pay For?
A special needs trust or a supplemental needs trust can be established to help a disabled individual who is receiving assistance from the government -- or is eligible to receive it. Disabled people, who cannot support...
How to Use a Prenuptial Agreement as an Estate Planning Tool
Prenuptial agreements and domestic law vary from one state to another but nearly every state has laws that prevent one spouse from entirely disinheriting the other. However, with a prenuptial agreement, one spouse can waive...
Estate Planning with 529 College Savings Accounts
Saving for college is one of the most daunting financial tasks a family can face, taking as much commitment and careful planning as arranging your estate.
But there's a powerful tool that lets you both put...
Stepchildren, Adopted Children and Natural Children: Who Inherits?
With the different variations of families in today's modern world, complications can arise as to who has the legal right to inherit assets. In some cases, an adult child will come to a lawyer's office...