Category: Estate Planning

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...

The administration of an estate can be a lengthy and sometimes frustrating process. The personal representative of the estate is tasked with its administration and the job duties are extensive. To administer the estate, the personal representative must, among other things, gather and protect all assets, take inventory of the assets, notify all...

Putting an estate plan in place is so important. One of the most common estate planning mistakes is not having an estate plan at all. That being said, a properly drafted estate plan is critical to best serving you and your loved ones. Mistakes in the drafting of an estate plan can have serious...

The law recognizes that we come to depend on our spouses in a multitude of ways. We depend on our spouses for things like both emotional and financial support. If your spouse passes away and, for some reason or another, fails to leave you an inheritance or leave you a small inheritance, you may...

The executor of the estate has many responsibilities when it comes to the managing and settling of the estate. One such responsibility is filing income tax on behalf of the estate. The executor is required to file a federal income tax return using Form 1041 for the estate if the estate has a gross...

On January 18, 2007, the last will and testament of James Brown was admitted for probate in South Carolina. The late rock and roll legend had passed away on Christmas Day of 2006. But, almost 13 years later, his estate has yet to be fully resolved. The issues and complications that have come up...

Creating a WillEstablishing an estate plan and creating a will are important to help ensure your wishes are honored and your family is provided for after you pass. Without a valid will in place, your estate will be distributed not according to your wishes, but according to the intestacy laws of...

Durable Power of AttorneyA power of attorney legally authorizes a purpose to act as your agent. The types and purposes for using a power of attorney greatly vary. You, as the principal, may wish to grant your agent broad or limited authority. You may want to limit the authority to one specific situation. A...