What is digital estate planning?

Q: What is digital estate planning? —Wondering A: Dear Wondering: Digital estate planning involves protecting your digital and online assets like cryptocurrency, websites, financial information, emails, photos and videos, social media accounts, etc. Proper digital estate planning can prevent huge hassles and losses over inaccessible accounts and/or missing passwords. For example, if the deceased owns…
Read More

Can I name multiple beneficiaries on my life insurance policy?

Q: Can I name multiple beneficiaries on my life insurance policy? –Curious A: Dear Curious: There are several options for naming beneficiaries on a life insurance policy. You can have 100% of the benefits go to a single beneficiary, or name multiple beneficiaries and divide the proceeds among them in whatever manner you choose. If you…
Read More

Can My Will Be Contested?

Q: Can my will be contested? Concerned testator– A: Dear Concerned: Creating a will should give you peace of mind. But if you are worried about someone contesting it, it helps to learn about the circumstances under which your will could be challenged. A beneficiary could contest a will if he or she had standing (a…
Read More

What Will Happen to My Pet in a Natural Disaster?

Q: What will happen to my pet in a natural disaster? Pet Parent– A: Dear Pet Parent: In the wake of natural disasters like the recent blitz of hurricanes to hit the Gulf Coast and Caribbean islands, the fates of countless pets are insecure. Understandably, many pet parents are now questioning what will happen to…
Read More

How Can Snowbirding Help Me Save on Taxes?

Q: How can snowbirding help me save on taxes? Recent Retiree– A: Dear Retiree: Snowbirding is a great way for retirees to escape the winter weather and can help mitigate high state income taxes at the same time. Income tax laws vary from state to state. California income tax can be as high as 13.3%, while…
Read More

What Does Transfer on Death Mean?

Q: What does transfer on death mean? Prudent Planner– A: Dear Prudent: Transfer on death (TOD) is a method through which you can name beneficiaries on an asset so that the asset transfers to that named beneficiary automatically upon your death. When all goes well, this asset will transfer at the time of your death, without…
Read More

What’s the best way to save for college?

Q: What’s the best way to save for college? –Planning Parent A: Dear Planning: Saving for college is a daunting task on every parent’s to-do list. Although we always recommend that families meet with a financial professional to devise a plan that considers the specifics of their financial profile, here are a few tips that…
Read More

Do I need my estate planning documents reviewed by an attorney?

Q: Do I need my estate planning documents reviewed by an attorney? –Estate Planning Novice A: Dear Novice: The decisions you make in creating your estate planning documents are significant and will have an impact on the people you love if you become incapacitated or when you die. So, the short answer is, yes. If you…
Read More

What is a revocable living trust?

Q: What is a revocable living trust? –Conscientious Planner A: Dear Conscientious: Revocable living trusts are legal relationships that connect three parties: the trust creator, the trustee, and the beneficiaries. A living trust allows the trust creator to put assets into a trust while the trustee manages them and the income they generate. As a valuable estate-planning…
Read More

How should I update my estate plan before I remarry?

Q: How should I update my estate plan before I remarry? -Betrothed spouse to be A: Dear Betrothed: Everyone deserves a second chance at happiness. Many people enter into second marriages with hopes of harmony and a new life. Proper estate-planning in preparation for a second (or third!) legal union will help avoid mishaps that may interrupt…
Read More

Clarifying Questions

Q&A: My Parents Shut Down When I Try to Talk About Estate Planning. How Can I Help Them Open Up?

QUESTION Q: My parents shut down when I try to talk about estate planning. How can I help them open up? –Concerned Son   ANSWER A: Concerned, It can be difficult for some people to talk about estate planning because…

Q&A: Can you explain how the administration of a will works?

QUESTION Q: Can you explain how the administration of a will works? –Taking Care of Mom   ANSWER A: Dear Taking Care: In order for assets in a will to be transferred to a beneficiary, the will must first pass…

Q&A Can I leave my 401(k) to my minor children when I die?

QUESTION Q: Can I leave my 401(k) to my minor children when I die? –Pondering Parent   ANSWER A: Dear Pondering: Though you can technically name a minor child as a beneficiary of your 401(k), IRA, or other employment-sponsored retirement…

Q&A Do I need to create a new will if I move to another state?

QUESTION Q: Do I need to create a new will if I move to another state? –Curious Mover   ANSWER A: Dear Curious: Most states will accept a will that was executed properly under another state’s laws. However, there could…

Q&A: How do I include cryptocurrency in my estate plan?

QUESTION Q: How do I include cryptocurrency in my estate plan? — Crypto Owner   ANSWER A: Dear  Crypto, If you own cryptocurrency, you must leave detailed instructions for accessing it, and ensure that one or more trustworthy people know…

Q&A: What is the federal estate tax?

QUESTION Q: What is the federal estate tax? — Tax Planner   ANSWER A: Dear  Planner, The federal estate tax is a tax on the value of a person’s assets at the time of their death. If the total value…

Q&A: What estate planning should my child have in place once they reach adulthood?

QUESTION Q: What estate planning should my child have in place once they reach adulthood? — Proactive Parent ANSWER A: Dear  Proactive, Once your kid becomes a legal adult—which is age 18 or 21, depending on your state—many areas of…

Q&A: What is a pour-over will?

QUESTION Q: What is a pour-over will? — Prudent Planner   ANSWER A: Dear Prudent, For a living trust to function properly, you must first transfer the legal title of any assets you want to be held by the trust…

Q&A: Can I tap into my retirement savings to pay for my child’s college education?

Q & A: QUESTION ______________________________________________________________________________ Q: Can I tap into my retirement savings to pay for my child’s college education? —Pondering Parent   ANSWER ______________________________________________________________________________ A: Dear Pondering: If your kids will need financial assistance, beyond student loans, to pay…

Q&A: What is the “contestability period” on a life insurance policy?

Q & A: QUESTION ______________________________________________________________________________ Q: What is the “contestability period” on a life insurance policy? —New Beneficiary   ANSWER ______________________________________________________________________________ A: Dear Beneficiary: Most life insurance policies contain a contestability period. Such periods are typically between one to two…

PFL® firms in your area

Group 247

Everything you need to start planning today.

Use our PFL directory to find the right Personal Family Lawyer for you and the people you love.