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Sitting down to create or update your estate plan can be overwhelming. Crucial to a successful plan is your ability to address two major questions: Who will get your stuff when you die, and how do you want those individuals or charities to receive that stuff?

While television and movies provide great entertainment, they are not always factual. Even shows based on real events are not entirely accurate. Creators of television programs and movies will often alter details of a story or situation to provide an enjoyable experience. Because of these widespread embellishments, people often develop misconceptions about many industries and professions, including attorneys and estate planning.

Estate planning involves more than just filling out forms; it is a legally binding way for individuals to manage their affairs in case of incapacity or death. It is important to seek legal advice from qualified professionals, as relying on non-lawyers can pose risks.

Creating or revising an estate plan can feel overwhelming, causing many people to procrastinate. But the longer you put it off, the more potential there is to be caught unprepared in an emergency. So how can you motivate yourself and your loved ones to begin the process? Here are some strategies to help you overcome some of the negative feelings associated with this process and meet the challenge head on.

Myths and Frequently Asked Questions: Planning Your Last Goodbye

Ensure Nothing Falls Through the Cracks: The Importance of a Residuary Clause in Your Estate Plan

Estate planning attorneys and probate and trust administration attorneys play crucial but distinct roles in the legal processes involving legacy planning, asset distribution, and wealth preservation. As part of the estate planning process, you should discuss with your attorney the role they will play during your lifetime and whether they can also assist your loved ones with estate and trust administration when you pass away.

Your mortgage, like the rest of your debt, does not simply disappear when you die. If you leave your home that has an outstanding loan to a beneficiary in your will or trust, your beneficiary will inherit not only the property but also the outstanding debt. They may have the right to take over the mortgage and keep the home, or they may choose to sell it and keep the proceeds. A few different scenarios can unfold, however, depending on the mortgage terms and the estate plan instructions.

When people think about estate planning, they usually focus on who will receive their money and property when they pass away and how it will be received. However, estate planning can also address your end-of-life wishes—the considerations and expenses involved when it is time to say goodbye to your loved ones.

Remote work has become the new norm for many employees, creating opportunities as well as challenges for employers. One of those challenges is verifying the identity and eligibility of remote workers for employment in the United States.

In the digital age, our online presence extends beyond social media. Platforms like Twitch, where users engage with live-streamed content, present unique considerations when it comes to estate planning. Do you know what happens to a Twitch account after an individual passes away? If you die and a loved one needs to take care of your estate, the following information is important for your estate planning attorney, personal representative (executor), trustee, and beneficiaries to know.

Creating a business entity is a common strategy in estate planning. However, because of the enactment of a new law called the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA), you may be required to submit certain information that was not previously required about a business entity and any individuals identified by the law as a beneficial owner to the federal government.

Myths and Frequently Asked Questions Corporate Transparency Act

January 28th is International LEGO day! Since the 1940s, people have been creating their own worlds, brick by brick, with LEGOs. With an estate plan, you can help your loved ones build a great future!

Your family member went through a meticulous estate planning process to organize and distribute money and property for the benefit of their loved ones, including you. But you may suspect that some of the high-value items in their estate originated as stolen property. The possibility of discovering stolen items within an estate is often overlooked, but it can have legal, financial, and emotional complications. How does it happen?

To Avoid Probate or Not to Avoid Probate: That Is the Question! In deciding whether a testamentary trust is right for your family or loved ones, consider whether avoiding probate is a priority for you and evaluate the pros and cons, which may vary depending on jurisdiction and the size of your estate.

Estate planning can be a significant part of successful financial management, especially for married couples. One key consideration is minimizing estate taxes, which can substantially affect the distribution of money and property to a married couple’s loved ones.

Separate trusts can provide greater flexibility, but a joint trust can be structured so that when one spouse passes away, the trust is split into two subtrusts: a survivor’s trust and a decedent’s trust.

You have several different options when it comes to creating the right estate plan. Some people believe that a revocable living trust is the best way to go, while others think that a last will and testament (commonly known as a will) is best under certain circumstances. Others may find that a combination of both—through the use of a testamentary trust—provides the right amount of control and protection for themselves and their loved ones.

Sharing your estate planning details with loved ones can offer several advantages, such as transparency and a smoother transition when you die or are unable to manage your own affairs. However, there are potential downsides, including possible disagreements between family members and pressure to change your plan. The decision to share your estate plan is yours and yours alone and this decision should be made carefully, taking into account your specific objectives and family dynamics. Read this article to learn more about the advantages and disadvantages of sharing your estate plan.

If you are handling a loved one's estate and are wondering who pays the various expenses, read this blog to learn more.

You may be able to generate basic estate planning documents by utilizing AI, but are you sure those documents are valid and enforceable? Providing accurate information and executing the documents in compliance with your state's laws is absolutely critical and generally something that clients never consider during the estate planning process. Before you decide to prepare your own estate plan utilize AI, read this blog.

An individual may consider giving gifts to friends and family members in order to lower their taxable estate at the time of their death. The timing and form of gifts have important estate planning implications. To learn more about how failing to cash a gift check prior to the gift givers death can result in higher estate taxes, read this blog about a recent case in the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.

Michael Oher has recently alleged that Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy, the Tennessee couple that took Oher into their home when he was in high school and were appointed as conservators of his estate, never actually adopted him. Oher alleges that the Tuohy’s instead tricked him into agreeing to the conservatorship and unjustly profited from his trust in them. To learn more about conservatorships, and learn more about Michael Oher's circumstances, read this blog.

Known for his beach-life songs, Jimmy Buffett was far more than that. He was a sharp businessman and big philanthropist. Not much is known about his estate as he utilized advanced planning techniques, but this blog gives you an insight into what his estate plan might include.