If you have a trust as part of your estate plan, then you will need to name a trustee. The trustee is the person who will manage the trust assets and ensure everything goes smoothly according to your wishes when you die. However, SmartAsset explains the trustee's...
An estate plan can help you visualize your goals for the future. You can identify what you want for your surviving family members and describe your expectations for the dissolution of your assets. Finding a strategy that works for your family will take time. In fact,...
Many people do not consider planning their estate when they purchase a house. Young homeowners do not always consider the future, but this is understandable during the excitement and months of preparation. However, once you settle into your new home, you should start...
For many people in California and throughout the U.S., dealing with the loss of a close friend or loved one is often overwhelming. Not only is it difficult to process emotions that come with a loss, but settling the estate and other affairs may seem daunting. Whether...
As you plan out your estate and who will take care of it when you are gone, you may wonder what kind of person you should choose to be your executor. Considering the amount of responsibility this person has, this choice can seem overwhelming. Learning more about the...
Individuals requiring assistance with their personal care may consider adding the power of attorney documents to their estate plans. Depending on the help needed, you may create a legal document for your medical treatments and a separate one for your finances. You may...
If you have recently become a parent, you know that the bond between a parent and child is extraordinary. You want to take care of and protect your children. You may have high aspirations for your child's future. If something happens to you, you want to know that your...
If you are in the process of setting up an estate plan, or you already have a plan in place and want to review or update your estate plan, you need to take various issues into consideration. From dividing your assets among beneficiaries to the person you place in...
Due to accidents, illnesses and other such situations, medical emergencies sometimes happen. When they do, decisions often must get made about the types of treatments patients will receive. If the injured or sick cannot speak for themselves, then the decisions about...
Many people in California underestimate the importance of beneficiary designations while planning their estate. Beneficiary designations can allow certain financial assets to pass directly to your heirs, skipping the probate process. A little mistake on your...
