If your adult children and their families are scattered across the country, the holidays may be the only time you’re together under one roof. That’s why this is the time of year when a lot of Americans have the “estate planning talk” ahead of putting their plan in...
Estate planning is crucial for all couples, but LGBTQ+ partners face special challenges. New laws have helped, but hurdles remain in protecting assets and final wishes. Because of Alabama's complex laws, it is vital for LGBTQ+ couples to know their options and act....
You may have started your company many years ago. Stepping aside from your role may not have been something you ever considered. However, the reality is that you cannot stay on as head of the business forever. That’s why it is so important to engage in succession...
Appointing a healthcare proxy is part of advance care planning, giving peace of mind to individuals. A healthcare proxy has the responsibility of making medical decisions on behalf of someone who can no longer communicate those decisions due to illness, injury or...
As technology evolves, so does our reliance on the digital space for our day-to-day life activities. As such, we all have a lot of digital assets that hold significant value and meaning, making it essential to plan for their management and preservation. Creating a...
Many people make an estate plan and never update it again. They just think that having a plan is the only requirement. Once they have drafted a will, they forget about it, and they don’t make any adjustments. You can do this, but it can create numerous problems. It’s...
You may hear people say that everyone needs to have an estate plan. At the same time, you’ll hear others say that estate planning is something to do after you retire or as you grow more advanced in age. Life expectancy is around 79, so people sometimes assume they...
As you begin to create your estate plan, you’re likely focused on how you can best share the assets you’ve acquired over the years with loved ones and worthy non-profit organizations. You’ll probably focus on ways to prevent your estate from being taxed unnecessarily...
Many people use trusts to hold some or all of their estate. A trust can keep those assets from having to go through the time-consuming process of probate. In some cases, they can protect them from creditors, divorcing spouses, Medicaid and the IRS. One type of trust...
A will is an important legal document that is part of an estate plan, which is used to decide how an estate should be managed. When an individual dies with a will, the estate is distributed according to the instructions left behind. Typically, this means that a...
