Close up of person writing out a check

Do You Need an Estate Checking Account?

After becoming the personal representative of a family member’s or friend’s estate, one of the first steps of estate administration is establishing a separate checking account for the estate. Having an estate checking account lets personal representatives separate pre- and post-death finances. 

Understanding Estate Checking Account
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Explaining Gift Tax: Exemptions and Rates

If you’ve considered making a sizeable gift to a child, extended family member, or friend, you might not realize that you may have to pay federal taxes on that gift. However, federal gift tax laws include many exemptions and exclusions that allow most taxpayers to avoid paying gift taxes during their lifetimes....

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Healthcare power of attorney form

What Is a Medical Power of Attorney?

Unfortunately, injury, illness, or advancing age may rob you of the ability to make healthcare decisions. Should the worst occur, you can avoid any confusion or chaos in your medical treatment by executing a medical power of attorney. 

Understanding Medical Power of Attorney

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How to Protect Your Digital Assets

In today’s digital age, more and more photos, letters, and financial accounts, which were once stored in drawers, file cabinets, and safes, are now often saved in the cloud or on hard drives. As a result, the importance of including digital assets in estate planning becomes apparent. Similar to our tangible...

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Unmarried couple with estate planning lawyer

Why Unmarried Couples Should Have An Estate Plan

In a time where there is increased diversity of familial units, it is crucial for unmarried couples to consider the role of estate planning in securing their future. Unlike their married counterparts, unmarried partners often do not automatically benefit from the legal protections and rights that marriage confers, especially with respect to...

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Older woman sitting with estate planning attorney

What Having an Incapacity Plan Can Accomplish

Incapacity planning is a critical aspect of personal and financial well-being that gets overlooked all too often. It involves creating a comprehensive strategy to address the possibility of becoming mentally or physically incapacitated and being unable to make important decisions about your own life and asset management. While contemplating the possibility...

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Woman going over estate plan with attorney

What are the Benefits of Preparing a Will?

Have you had estate planning on your to do list for a long time and somehow it keeps getting bumped by seemingly more pressing matters? Do you think about creating a will but have consistently put it off? Well, creating a will is not necessarily something a person looks forward to. It...

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Man working on his estate plan

Key Considerations When Choosing a Trustee

So, you have decided to incorporate a trust into your estate plan. Great! Trusts can accomplish a number of important goals for your future and that of your loved ones. A big part of setting up your trust for success, however, is choosing the right trustee. Trustees, of course, play a...

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