Why a Will Is the Foundation of an Estate Plan – Annapolis and Towson Estate Planning
If you care about what happens to your money, home and other property after you die, you need to do some estate planning.
If you care about what happens to your money, home and other property after you die, you need to do some estate planning.
Estate planning is a systematic process, which involves getting your personal and financial goods for the time, if you pass away or become mentally ill. It is also known as last will, and almost everyone does this planning for their family.
A trust fund is an account that gives a person control over who will receive their assets during their lifetime and/or at their death.
Everyone’s heard the stories of celebrities who died without a proper estate plan in place. It’s been a hot topic in the last few years with Prince and Aretha Franklin serving as unfortunate faces of the phenomenon. However, it’s not just freewheeling entertainers.
Your will is one of the most important documents you will ever sign. However, to think that over 70% of people don’t even have a will is, indeed, quite frightening.
When the first spouse dies, the surviving spouse may not remain as close with his or her stepchildren. Small irritations which were overlooked during the lifetime of the spouse who died, may become outright disputes.
The fact is people’s names often change. People get married and divorced or sometimes just legally change their names.
Beneficiary designations are a crucial part of estate planning, yet they are often overlooked. Once you have signed your estate planning documents, you need to make sure that your beneficiary designations are consistent with the rest of your estate plan.
Updating one’s estate planning documents involves changes to one’s trust, will and/or designation of death beneficiaries, as relevant. To be effective, such updates must be done correctly.
Becoming a parent means taking on a whole new level of responsibility. After all, you've now got a new life in your hands and your child is dependent on you for everything.