3 Simple Mistakes That Can Derail Your Estate Plan
10 Common Estate Planning Mistakes Your Family Can’t Afford to Make—Part 2
10 Common Estate Planning Mistakes Your Family Can’t Afford to Make—Part 1
A Not-So-Happy Accident: Bob Ross’s Estate Planning Failures —Part 2
A Not-So-Happy Accident: Bob Ross’s Estate Planning Failures —Part 1
Estate Planning Must-Haves For Single Parents
Estate Planning 101: Wills vs. Trusts
Legendary Rapper DMX Dies With No Will, Millions in Debt, and 15 Children—Part 2
Legendary Rapper DMX Dies With No Will, Millions in Debt, and 15 Children—Part 1
Don’t Forget To Protect Your Furry Family: Estate Planning For Your Pets
Estate Planning Mistakes
10 Common Errors When Naming Life Insurance Beneficiaries That Will Hurt the People You Love – and How to Fix Them
If you make a mistake in naming beneficiaries for your life insurance policy, the people you love will end up being hurt. Insure.com recently provided a list of the 10 life insurance beneficiary mistakes to avoid. We elaborate on how…
How to Avoid Family Conflict When Making an Estate Plan
Unfortunately, money has a habit of bringing out the worst in people, even in the best of families. One of the most important reasons to get your [city/state] estate plan handled is to keep your family out of conflict. And,…
What You Can Learn From Three-Time NYC Mayor Ed Koch’s Will About Your Estate Planning
Three-time New York City Mayor Ed Koch died on Feb. 1, leaving an estate estimated between $10-$11 million. And it’s a good thing that “Hizzoner” loved governing, because one-quarter of his estate will be going to the state and federal…
Striking a Balance Between Funding Your Retirement and Your Child’s Education
Many parents perceive a conflict between funding a child’s college education and building their own retirement nest egg. The conflict usually arises from the lack of financial resources to do both while funding daily living expenses, so parents become stuck…
The Risks of Poorman’s Estate Planning: How to Pass on Property & Avoid Probate the Right Way
They call it the “poor man’s estate planning.” Put your child on the title to your deed and avoid probate. Yet this “poor man’s” planning often ends up, well, poorly; and costing a lot more for the people you love.…
The Fiscal Cliff Tax Deal: For Most of Us, It’s a Wash
The American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 that Congress passed on New Year’s Day extended the Bush era tax cuts, but the benefits of those cuts for most American taxpayers will be offset by a 2% increase in payroll tax.…
What is the Difference Between a Will-based plan and a Trust-based plan?
In this article I will explain the difference between a Will-based plan and a Trust-based plan so you can make an educated decision for your family about what is best for you and, ultimately, for them. A Will-based plan is…
How to Correctly Name Beneficiaries for Your IRAs
You could be unintentionally reducing your family’s wealth potential if you do not properly designate the beneficiaries of your IRAs. Improper estate planning could mean that your IRA assets could pass to the wrong people or entities, so how you…
What to Do When You Inherit a Retirement Account
As a Personal Family Lawyer®, I am often asked to help people who inherit a retirement account. The action you need to take with an inherited IRA depends upon your unique situation; the IRS has rules for each and recently…
What a Will Won’t Do
There are a number of essential things a last will and testament can do for you, such as distribute family heirlooms and name a guardian for minor children, but there are some equally important things a will won’t do: Diminish…
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