Your will is more than just a piece of paper. It is the declaration of your final wishes and the testament of your legacy. To ensure that your desires come to pass when you are unable to oversee their passage yourself and that your loved ones receive exactly what you...
Estate Planning
Important differences between revocable and irrevocable trusts
Trusts are important aspects of a comprehensive estate plan. A trust not only ensures proper management of your assets by your designated trustee but proper utilization according to your wishes and instructions as well. The two primary trust entities, irrevocable and...
How should I leave a gift to charity in a will?
Some people have causes that they are passionate about and give to those causes through charities. Perhaps you wish to leave one final gift of money or property to your favorite charity after you die. One way to do this is through your will. According to Kiplinger,...
What does an executor do?
One of the critical decisions you must make during the estate planning process is choosing an executor for your estate. However, you may not know exactly what an executor does. This guide will help you understand the primary role of the executor. What the executor...
What happens if you pass away without a will?
Intestate succession occurs when a person dies without a will. In Pennsylvania, your assets will pass to your closest relatives. In this case, your estate will enter probate. Pennsylvania has a relatively simple probate process, but you still need to know what to...
How can I choose the right trustee for my estate?
Along with other estate planning tools, trusts are an essential aspect of safeguarding your assets. In addition to wills and beneficiary designations, trusts ensure the assets and property you worked so hard for during your life go to your heirs in the manner you...
How often do you need to update your estate plan?
Estate planning is an excellent way to visualize the type of future you want. Throughout your plan, you can incorporate details that describe your final wishes and how you want your assets distributed. Updating your estate plan is just as important as having one....
What are the two types of a living trust?
Most Americans are aware of what a last will and testament do. However, many people do not understand the role that living trust can play in a comprehensive estate plan. In many cases, you may benefit from including living trusts in your estate plan along with a last...
3 common ways to protect your assets
The main goals of an estate plan are to reduce taxes, have control over estate distribution and protect your assets for future generations. Asset protection does not hide your assets, but it helps build a wall around your wealth to motivate those who want to come...
Will you owe estate taxes?
The deeper you get into the estate planning process in Pennsylvania, the more you realize that there are opportunities to optimize your plans in order to preserve assets for your beneficiaries. These include structuring your estate so as to avoid probate, or...
