If you want your business to continue after you retire, a solid succession plan could be essential. Given that some small businesses fail because of poor planning, you should know which mistakes to avoid as you compose a strategy to pass your business to a new owner....
There is a common misconception that including a trust in one's estate plan is something that only benefits wealthy individuals. While it is true those with large amounts of assets stand to benefit from using a trust, so too do many other types of people. If you...
Under Virginia law, assets go through probate if the deceased had assets in his or her sole name without a beneficiary form filled out or joint ownership at his or her death. Virginia does allow a limited probate process if the only asset is real estate or if the...
Your wishes may change over the years, which means your will may change as well. There are several ways to update your will including making a whole new will to replace the old one or going through the process of altering your current will. Another method is to make a...
Creating a comprehensive estate plan is one of the more effective ways to maintain control over what happens to a person's assets after he or she dies. Nowadays, though, many estate plans also deal with end-of-life matters, such as critical care decision-making,...
There are multitudes of ways to organize your estate, and trusts are a powerful component of that. There are many things that trusts can do that wills cannot, and most estate planners benefit from making use of trusts. The two varieties of a living trust are revocable...
Putting together a will is an important first step when you create your estate plan. This document allows you to dictate how to distribute your personal property after your death. According to a recent Gallup poll, only 46% of Americans have created a will. If you...
A Power of Attorney plays a very important role in your estate planning. The person you designate must act in your best interests and can make decisions on your behalf should you become incapacitated. Choosing the right person for this role can be difficult. This...
The idea of people using your money without your consent can feel like a major violation. However, this is what often happens during emergency situations when no power of attorney is in place. Your decision to name a power of attorney as part of your estate plan can...
Planning for your death is important, but it is equally important to plan what should happen if you are still living but unable to make critical decisions for yourself. A key step in this process is assigning power of attorney to an agent you trust to make decisions...
