by Lauren Jackson | Feb 7, 2018 | Attorney, Estate Planning, Lawyer, Probate
When you die will your family have an easy time dealing with all of your financial affairs? We understand that talking about your death or even planning for your death is hard to discuss. Below are a few helpful guidelines to remind you what you should review and...
by Lauren Jackson | Jan 23, 2018 | Estate Planning, Probate, Revocable living trust, Trustee
A question I often get asked when discussing the consequences of the death of a parent is: Am I responsible for my parents’ debt when they die? The quick answer to that question is…..no. Whether your parents have an estate plan or not, if they die with debt in THEIR...
by Lauren Jackson | Oct 9, 2017 | Attorney, Estate Planning, Lawyer
One question that should take top priority when interviewing a potential estate-planning attorney is: What is the amount of experience they have accumulated in the field? The reason this should take such precedence is not only because you want it done right from the...
by Lauren Jackson | Apr 14, 2017 | Attorney, Estate Planning, Life Insurnace
Recently, I watched a 60-minute news story about how some of the largest life insurance companies don’t pay benefits even when they know the policyholder has died. Insurance companies claim that it is up to policyholders’ beneficiaries to contact the insurance company...
by Lauren Jackson | Mar 23, 2017 | Estate Planning, intentionally defective grantor trust, Trusts
An intentionally defective grantor trust (IDGT) is a very interesting estate planning tool. It can be used to freeze certain assets for estate tax purposes, but not for income tax purposes. It is best used, for example, for a business that you own that is expected to...
by Lauren Jackson | Mar 16, 2017 | Divorce, Estate Planning, Trusts, Wills
In the aftermath of a divorce, updating your estate plan may not be at the forefront of your mind. You may still be distraught and emotionally and/or physically exhausted. However, many clients don’t realize what could result if they don’t update their...
