Specialized pet trust law has developed because of the huge popularity of pets in this country, and the strong desire of pet owners to provide for their pets, even after the owner's death.
While it’s never fun or pleasant to think about what will happen to them if the worst should happen to us, it’s very important to consider how we can ensure that they are well cared-for when and if we are no longer able to care for them ourselves.
From digital assets to financial accounts to sentimental items, here’s what to think about to make sure your loved ones have access to everything they need when you pass away.
Estate planning is not just about saving taxes, it is also about managing and protecting your assets against future creditors, both for you and for your beneficiaries.
During the past four months, more than 141,000 Americans have died of COVID-19. Anecdotal evidence suggests that the pandemic has prompted some people to get serious about creating or updating their estate plans, according to Christine Benz, Morningstar’s director of personal finance.
Eighty-five million families in the United States own at least one pet. That’s 68% of the population. How many of those owners have a plan for what would happen to their pet, if they themselves met with a crisis, had a lengthy hospitalization, or died?
In other words, family members who are not named to inherit anything in the will may still see the list of all of the assets. If you don’t want that result, you can avoid it by establishing a trust.
If you and your spouse are child-free, you may think you don't need to think about comprehensive estate planning—but you'd be wrong. You'll still want to ensure your assets go where you'd like them to after you're gone, rather than being divvied up by the state.
Three handwritten documents, dated between 2010 and 2014, were found in Aretha Franklin’s Michigan home in recent months, including one in a spiral notebook found under her couch cushions.
