Category: Estate Planning

A marital trust enables you, the grantor of the trust, to set aside assets and property for your spouse if you die before he or she does. These assets can include stocks, bonds, mutual fund accounts, bank accounts, real property, and more. A marital trust also allows you to pass these assets over to a… Continued

Are funeral home prices rising? It’s difficult to answer this question because funeral homes do not publish their prices online or anywhere else. That may change soon, as federal regulators are scheduled to look into the rule that governs how funeral homes publically share pricing information, according to the New York Times. Many consumer advocacy… Continued

Social media is an important part of many lives these days. Of people who use the internet, 83 percent of women and 75 percent of men use Facebook, according to Omnicore. Most seniors who use the internet are also on Facebook, which can be a great way to stay in touch with family and friends.… Continued

Chances are that most people do not start thinking about estate planning until they are in their 40s and 50s. After all, by the age of 50, the average American has acquired or is close to acquiring his or her maximum net wealth and is reaching an age when medical issues are starting to become… Continued

As retirement approaches, your mind may start wandering off to a warm beach, an isolated lake surrounded by wilderness, or downsizing to a small condominium and moving to be close to your children. The majority of people who reach the age of 61 say that they feel free to choose where they want to live,… Continued

A Prince George’s County, Maryland, couple was killed by the driver of an SUV, who impatiently crossed the center yellow divider to pass two vehicles, then returned to the proper lane when it struck the couple’s car. The 31-year-old mother and 34-year-old-father left behind three young children. They were running an errand for some last… Continued

According to Forbes, one of the most common mistakes made during estate administration is failing to buy or sell securities during a good market (bull market) or bad market (bear market). For estate administrators who do not have experience in the stock market, this duty can be particularly challenging. However, it is the estate administrator’s… Continued

Leaving behind money to your family, friends and other loved ones is a satisfying option for those with property to leave behind when they pass. However, for those with considerable assets, your property may be taxed heavily by the federal government if you do not take the appropriate estate planning steps to avoid excessive taxation.… Continued

As our older loved ones age, the truth is that they eventually may require long-term care assistance, such as living in a nursing home or assisted living facility. But how does this get paid for, let alone arranged? Estate planning is part of a successful long-term care plan in that it helps senior citizens get… Continued

It may seem like there are simply too many other tasks to take care of when you or a loved one’s health begins to fail them, but planning for long-term care during end of life planning is an extremely important step to take. Proper long-term care planning not only provides a plan forward, but actually… Continued