Your attorney can design the trust to pay the grantor a stream of income at least annually and over a specific term of years. At the end of the specified term, payments end.
Often, family members “lawyer up” and settle in for a long, drawn-out court battle. In such cases, attorney fees often spiral into the tens and even hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Depending on the size of the estate and the nature of the accounts and property held by the estate, these expenses reduce the final amount available for heirs or beneficiaries.
Part 2 in a 2-Part Series Last week, we started a two-part series about how to prepare your estate documents prior to heading out for a summer vacation. Click here to read part one of this series. More documents to gather before heading out for a summer vacation:
(Part 1 of a 2-Part Series) After months of near confinement in our homes, most Americans are stir-crazy. As such, we are eager to travel to make vacation plans. As more states are open, take these precautions before your summer travels.
Or, you could manage their financial affairs as a conservator. This takes time and money. It also involves public testimony and evaluations about your parents’ health and living situation.
After someone you love dies, a court will disperse their money and property either according to their will or to the state’s default distribution scheme. (This is often found in its “intestacy” statute). While most people prefer to manage the settlement process ASAP, the probate process often takes between 18 and 24 months. Yes, you read […]
Today, many people are using Revocable Living Trust (RLTs). Used instead of a will or joint ownership, RLTs provide the foundation of an effective estate plan. When properly prepared, a living trust avoids the public, costly and time-consuming court processes of conservatorship or guardianship (due to incapacity) or probate (after death). Still, many mistakenly send […]
As an added convenience for our clients, we are available to hold our meetings through video conferencing or by phone if you prefer. We are here to help you decide whether it makes sense to avoid probate in your particular case and, if so, the best way to do so.
Most people equate probate with privacy. The process of collecting, managing, and distributing a deceased person’s money and property, probate is not a private process. For example, attorneys file wills at the courthouse. This makes them public record. As a result, your nosy neighbors need only travel to the courthouse or hop online to find out […]