You already have an estate plan. It's in a beautiful binder. Now where do you keep it? I tell my clients to keep their estate plan in a safe place that is easily accessible by other family members. This means keep it in a safe place in your home: not a safe-deposit box. And let your agents, trustees, and executors know where you put it. This way it is easy to find and produce in an emergency. If you have to evacuate your home for any reason (fire, flood, etc.), take your esta

As a young family, you want to make sure that your children will be taken care of if something happens to you. But what do you need to do to ensure that happens? You may not know this, but your estate planning needs will be different depending on the stage of your life. A retired couple without children needs an estate plan to prepare for potential incapacity due to deteriorating health and eventual death. Your estate plan will focus on providing for you at the end of your li

Many people wonder if they need a trust. Trusts are designed to accomplish specific goals, so not everyone needs one. But you might. A trust allows people to transfer property to others (family, friends, charities) without going through probate. Avoiding probate can reduce costs and enable loved ones to receive the assets sooner. If you have minor children, you may want a trust, so that your children can get your assets sooner. A trust also allows parents to choose in advance