Trusts can act as useful protection for assets, especially ones that need distributing after a person's death. When the time comes to handle those remaining assets, the successor trustee has the responsibility of following instructions involved with administering the...
Going beyond a will is typically wise for estate planning
Creating an estate plan is on many New York residents' to-do lists, but it is often near the bottom or constantly having other tasks placed above it. You may think that you have plenty of time to create your plan or may even think that you already have a plan because...
Important factors to consider when choosing an executor
You may have already begun your estate planning journey and have done a deep dive into a self-assessment. You may have had to answer many tough questions so far, but still, you have not completed the entirety of the process. Though you may have many aspects of your...
Does your family know what you want your funeral to be like?
A large part of estate planning is making your wishes known even when you can no longer express them on your own. Whether you prepare for the possibility of incapacitation or for your death, you want to make sure to complete certain tasks in the manner in which you...
Options for transferring a timeshare to your beneficiaries
Timeshares are great for those seeking a getaway, but they aren't easy to deal with in an estate plan. Aside from finding someone who wants to maintain these vacation ownerships, you need to find a way to incorporate these into your plan so your beneficiaries don't...
Tips for setting up a trust for your children
Parents have many tough decisions to make when raising their kids, and one of the most difficult can be how they plan to pass along their assets. Most families do not want children under the age of 18 inheriting money or property, so choosing a qualified trustee is...
Sometimes it may be necessary to protect children from themselves
As you begin estate planning, you may want leave money for your children even though they may not have inherited your good financial sense. If there is a chance a child could squander his or her inheritance, it may be appropriate to take precautions to help protect...
Does your pet need a burial plan too?
If your estate plan does not include your pets, it might not be a complete estate plan. You may choose who should inherit your pet, and that inheritance can include burial plans. Without an outlined burial plan, the person who inherits your pet may decide something...
How to prepare for your pet’s future before you die
In most cases, due to short life spans, your pet will pass away before you. In the instance of a possible tragic event or sudden illness that could eventually lead to your death, it would be wise to prepare for your pet's future without you. There are a few steps to...
How to protect your children with an estate plan
Are your children protected if something happens to you? This is a difficult but necessary question every parent should ask. Estate planning is one of the best ways to protect your loved ones now and in the future. This is especially true for protecting your children...