When it comes to returning to school in the fall, the details may still be unknown. Will students be attending classes in person, will classes continue to be online, or some combination? Will college students be allowed on campus, or will they be bunking with mom and dad for the fall semester? One thing is […]
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After months of confinement, many of us are stir-crazy and eager to travel. Although more states are opening up, there are several factors to consider as you plan your travels. Heed the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines. The CDC has issued recommendations for those traveling outside of their local communities within the […]
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Franchise and multilevel marketing (MLM) businesses offer people the chance to start a small business with a well-known, established brand. But the owners of these businesses face unique estate planning challenges because their rights and obligations are spelled out in contractual agreements. What Is a Franchise? When you purchase a franchise, you are purchasing a […]
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A guardian is someone who cares for a person who needs special protection, often a minor child. Parents can nominate a guardian in their will, but a court usually confirms and appoints the guardian after both parents have passed away. If the parents are still alive but are very ill or unable to care for […]
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July is National Sandwich Generation Month, a time to honor those who are caring for both their children and their aging parents. At the moment, many parents are not only parenting their children but also homeschooling them, and older children who have lost their jobs or could not return to college after spring break may […]
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The person you choose to be the executor of your estate (also called a personal representative) will be responsible for gathering, managing, and ultimately distributing everything you own after you pass away. You’ll need to make your selection very carefully; Don’t just choose your oldest child by default. If a friend or advisor is better […]
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Most people think of probate as a private process, but because wills are filed at the courthouse, probated estates become a matter of public record. That means your nosy neighbor can simply go online (or down to the courthouse) and find out about your probate. It’s easier than you might imagine. It’s Not Just […]
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Instead of a will or joint ownership, many people today are replacing those common estate planning tools with a revocable living trust. A revocable living trust avoids the public, costly and time-consuming court processes of conservatorship or guardianship (which may be necessary if you become incapacitated) as well as probate (the court process that takes […]
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After a person dies, their money and property must be distributed to the right people, either according to their will or the state’s default distribution method. Most people want the settlement process to be completed quickly, but this process, called probate, can take between 18 and 24 months. This delay can create unnecessary stress. 5 […]
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A savings bond is a “debt security” issued by the U.S. Department of the Treasury to help pay for the U.S. government’s borrowing needs. When you buy a savings bond, you loan the U.S. government money which the government repays with interest after a fixed period of time. There are currently two types of savings […]
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