“Don't forget about your pets when making your estate plan.” Many folks forget about what would happen to their pets, if they were no longer there to provide a safe and happy home for them. The Milwaukee Community Journal's recent article, “What Happens to Your Pet When You Die–How to Plan fo...

“An executor has many duties, including paying off debt.” When a person passes away, the executor of the will is responsible for paying off the decedent's debts. Paying off debt is one of the most important tasks of an executor, says nj.com in a recent article that asks, “What happens if execu...

“Your error shall survive until you don't–and then things can hit the fan.” A bonehead is someone who's stubborn, thick-skulled, or stupid. You don't need to be a bonehead, when it comes to estate planning. Work with a qualified estate planning attorney and don't make these dumb errors. The H...

“Have you wondered when is the right time to update your estate plan?” If any of the following five items have happened in your life, you need to reevaluate your estate planning documents: birth, death, marriage, divorce or a big change in your financial status. The FDL Reporter recently publ...

“Getting remarried gives people a fresh start, an opportunity to learn from the past and to move forward. Unfortunately, for most couples, the next trip down the aisle can also come with a host of new financial challenges.” Nasdaq's recent article, “Getting Remarried? 5 Financial Steps to Take...

“Your legacy differs from your estate, in that it represents more than the things you own—it embodies your purpose. At the end of your life, your legacy will be the imprint you leave on this earth and the meaning your life leaves behind.” Forbes' recent article, “Why You Should Consider Using ...

“While most Americans haven't saved enough for retirement—GOBankingRates reports that 42 percent of us have less than $10,000 saved and expect to retire “broke”—the future for freelancers looks especially bleak.” More than one in three workers today are doing on-demand work, like driving for U...

“The last will and testament of Tom Benson excludes his daughter and her children by name from any role in running a reportedly multi-billion-dollar business empire that includes the Saints and Pelicans.  However, it doesn't affect many million dollars' worth of property that they received befo...

“The truth may never be known, but nearly four decades after the fact, the biggest consequences left on the table revolve around the money she left behind.” As the surviving witnesses to Natalie Wood's 1981 death come forward to change their stories, her 88-year-old husband Robert Wagner is on...

“After Glen Campbell passed in August 2017, news concerning his estate has been circulating.” Rumors have surfaced that Glen included only five of his eight children in his will and that his widow Kimberly has brought a claim for more than $500K from the estate to pay medical bills. Glen Camp...

“The Minnesota Supreme Court rejected two people claiming to be heirs to Prince's estate.” Minnesota Supreme Court Chief Justice Lorie Gildea recently issued an order denying the petitions of Darcell Gresham Johnston and Venita Jackson Leverette. Minneapolis Star-Tribune reported in its recen...

“A new generation of collectors is scouring the homes of deceased celebrities and business titans in search of relics from a bygone time.” A home with decades-old décor normally might struggle to find a buyer.  However, The Wall Street Journal explains in its recent report, "Estate Sales Are C...

“An heir to the Marriott hotel fortune claims his dad forced him out of the business and then cut him out of the family's nearly $3 billion trust — just because he got a divorce.” John Marriott III said that his father, Bill Marriott, forced him out of the hotel empire and then cut him out of th...

“It seems fair to say, 11 years after James Brown's death, that his estate planning has failed in its major mission: to distribute his wealth efficiently.” James Brown's estate was to donate millions of dollars to underprivileged children in Georgia and South Carolina. But as The New York Time...

If you leave your IRA to your son and daughter equally - 50-50 - what happens when one of them dies? MarketWatch answered that question in its article, "Who gets your IRA when you die? It's not so simple." The answer to what happens to the IRA money, is dependent upon what the beneficiary desi...

“In all different cases — will contests, trust contests, life-estate challenges, probate objections, elder financial abuse, deed revocations or joint-tenancy quarrels — the interests and paths of stepmothers and stepchildren often collide.” It's not uncommon for conflicts to arise in estate ma...

“Make 2018 the year you take the steps to save money on insurance, reduce your taxes, boost your retirement savings and protect yourself from identity thieves.” Now is a great time to make some key financial moves that can help you throughout the year and make it easier to reach your goals. He...

“Audrey Hepburn's will has been revealed for the first time in her son's battle against her children's charity over the Hollywood star's name and likeness.” Sean Hepburn Ferrer sued the Audrey Hepburn Children's Fund last fall for infringing trademark and other rights belonging to him and Luca...

“No matter your age or socioeconomic status, estate planning is something you need to consider.” Estate planning isn't just about leaving assets to heirs. A recent twincities.com article, titled "Your Money: Medical power of attorney: the missing piece of too many estate plans," asks the reade...

"The day you open for business is not a minute too soon to think about your long-term exit strategy–a written plan, including provisions for increasing the value of your business at least five to 10 years ahead of your exit date.” As a by-product of succession planning, you get a template for ...

“Upon my death, I really don't care what happens or who gets my money.” A single man in his mid-40s with no real family may not understand why it's important for him to do some estate planning. Hometown Life, in its recent article, “Estate planning not just important in death,” noted that he ...

“The phrase 'legacy planning' is becoming increasingly used in place of, or to supplement, estate planning.” Unfortunately, legal terms and financial terms can be confusing. The term “legacy” has a specific technical definition—a gift or bequest made under a last will and testament. This creat...

“What taxes will be owed if you gift money to family?” Questions often come up when gifting to children. What are the consequences to the giver and to the recipient? An article from nj.com, “Gift tax consequences for you and your heirs,” begins with the big picture, then looks at the annual gi...

“You can't give your required minimum distribution from a 401(k) to charity without triggering a tax, but you can donate your 401(k) RMD tax-free, if you roll the money over to an IRA.” Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) are minimum amounts that a retirement plan account owner is required t...

“If your senior parents don't want to talk about money, here are some tips to start the conversation.” If your mother is a widow and she lives alone, you may notice that she's beginning to have difficulty getting around and refuses to have help in the house. nj.com's recent article, “When you...