- How to Avoid Probate in South Carolina
Inheriting an estate in South Carolina can be simplified by avoiding the probate process. While probate serves an important legal function, it can also create unnecessary costs and delays for beneficiaries. Fortunately, South Carolina law provides several methods to bypass probate and ensure your assets pass directly to your chosen heirs. Partner with an experienced… Read more…
- How to Avoid Probate in Washington State
Probate is a legal process that validates the will of a deceased person. It makes an inventory of assets, settles debts and distributes property under court supervision. Understanding how this process works in Washington state can help you navigate through potential challenges that can be time-consuming, stressful and expensive. Fortunately, you can use different strategies… Read more…
- How to Avoid Probate in Illinois
The loss of a family member is a deeply personal and challenging experience. And the probate process can create further emotional turmoil, not to mention additional financial costs. Understanding how probate works in Illinois and the potential challenges that could arise is crucial for individuals who want to create a straightforward estate plan for their… Read more…
- Can a Nursing Home Take Our Assets? We Have a $1 Million IRA and a Trust to Protect Us
As we age, many of us will need some form of long-term care, whether at home or in a facility. With nursing home costs averaging over $90,000 per year, long-term care expenses can add up quickly. While Medicaid can help you cover these costs, it has strict eligibility requirements that may require you to spend… Read more…
- What Is Right of Survivorship and How Does It Work?
The right to survivorship refers to the legal principle that upon the death of a joint owner, the remaining owner(s) automatically inherit the deceased owner’s share of property or assets without having to pass through probate. Here’s how it works. A financial advisor can help you ensure that your assets are set up to avoid… Read more…
- How to Avoid Probate in Michigan
Navigating the complexities of estate planning can be daunting, especially when it comes to understanding probate laws. Probate is a legal process in which a deceased person’s estate is settled and distributed. It can be a time-consuming and potentially expensive for those involved. Here is what you need to know about avoiding probate if you… Read more…
- How the Lady Bird Deed Works in Florida
If you’re looking to transfer real estate property to a beneficiary when you die, a Lady Bird deed might do the trick. This powerful estate planning instrument is a popular choice among Florida homeowners. This state laws aims to safeguard properties from Medicaid estate recovery and circumvent probate. Let’s breakdown how a lady bird deed… Read more…
- How to Amend a Living Trust in California
Living trusts are a fundamental pillar of estate planning. But they need to be dynamic, adapting to your evolving needs and circumstances. Often, these changes are weighty enough to necessitate the altering of your living trust. If you want to amend a living trust in California, understanding the difference between revocable and irrevocable trusts is… Read more…
- How to Avoid Probate in California
Depending on the nature of any given asset, there are ways to avoid probate. Probate is the process of managing and distributing someone’s assets after they have died. For someone who dies with a will, the probate court will establish its validity, oversee distribution of assets, manage disputes, and handle any other necessary matters. For someone… Read more…
- ‘Upstream Gifting’ Can Help You Avoid Estate Taxes and Preserve Your Stepped-Up Basis
Estate planning usually involves determining how to pass assets on to younger generations. But instead of leaving a piece of real estate, bank account or burgeoning stock portfolio to your children, the smarter tax move might be to leave those assets to your parents. That’s the crux of a clever tax minimization strategy known as… Read more…