Category: Estate Planning

Testamentary capacity is essential to making a valid will. In fact, testamentary capacity refers to the mental capability of a person to establish a formal will. For a person drafting a will, referred to as the “testator,” having testamentary capacity is a requirement for the will to be recognized as valid. Without testamentary...

Having an estate plan in place means that you have taken a valuable step towards protecting a future you want for you and your family. In order for an estate plan to be most effective, however, it needs to remain updated so that it always falls in line with your most current wishes....

Life in the times of the COVID-19 pandemic sometimes seems dominated by fear and anxiety. The potential of life-threatening illness looms in the air and many people feel lost as to what they can do to regain some sort of control over this new life. This can be especially true for parents that are...

When you hear people talking about estate planning, you may associate it with your parents or your grandparents. You may think about it as something that wealthy individuals do to protect their assets and figure out where their money will go after they die. Estate planning is about so much more though. In...

There is no fixed deadline for how long an executor has to settle an estate in North Carolina. However, executors must meet specific legal deadlines throughout the probate process. While some estates may close within several months, others can take a year or longer, depending on the complexity of the estate.

When properly crafted, an estate plan has so much more to offer than simply a way to distribute assets to your family and loved ones. There is an extensive range of estate planning tools that are often overlooked, but can provide many benefits to those who choose to access them. For instance, a 529...

Estate planning is something everyone should do as soon as possible. It is an important process that puts critical legal tools in place to protect you and your loved ones. There will be many difficult decisions you will have to make during the estate planning process. This is true just of creating your...

Many people have charitable causes about which they are passionate. When estate planning, you may wish to consider planned charitable giving which will allow you to support your charitable interests. There are several ways to include charitable giving. It will provide you with the opportunity to continue championing those causes that hold a...

Estate planning involves putting important tools and legal protections in place related to your end of life wishes as well as others associated with ensuring your healthcare decisions are respected and your financial well being is protected. This does not mean that estate planning is only for those individuals who are older or...

There are many different trust types available to use when estate planning. Each different type of trust serves a different purpose and has its own benefits. The value that you may find in the proper implementation of the right kind of trust to serve your own purposes can be substantial. This is part of...