The probate process is a court-supervised process of authenticating the last will of a deceased person. The process is required to pay the final bills and distribute the decedent’s estate. If there is no will, the probate process looks similar to an extent, but there are significant differences there too. Also, the probate process varies…Read More
Estate planning is not a topic that many people want to think about but it’s an important part of your life plan. An estate plan is the best thing you can have to be sure that your family is taken care of and that the people you leave behind know your wishes. People have many…Read More
The volatile markets, along with the Covid pandemic that we find ourselves in, reminds us that we should revisit estate planning for our family. While we cannot control events and circumstances, we can create and execute plans that help us to stand firm when adverse situations and uncertain times arise. If you do not have…Read More
The death of a parent can be a difficult time. These times are made easier if your loved one had a will, power of attorney, and full state plan. Even though you and your siblings are grieving together, past differences can crop up and money is usually the culprit. If you discover that you have…Read More
The biggest question regarding estate planning is this: Do I really Need a Will? The short answer is yes, everyone should have a will. People who die without a will leave behind a lengthy probate process for their families. Probate without a will is an experience unlike any other. Wills are not just for the…Read More
It is estimated that more than half of U.S. families are remarried or re-coupled. If you are in this category you should take specific steps to protect your assets and your family. Most married couples leave their entire estate to their spouse when they die. The issue for blended families is that, long after you’re gone, your…Read More
Most of us have an idea in our minds of how we would want our estate to be distributed at the time of our death. Unfortunately, the majority of Americans do not have those thoughts down on paper in the form of a will. A will is only the starting point of a well-thought-out estate plan….Read More
Many people assume that a basic estate plan means having a will. In reality, there is so much more to a solid estate plan. In reality, a well-designed estate plan should be designed to help save on taxes, protect assets and help to avoid probate. A good plan should also appoint someone to act for you…Read More
More than 3,200 same-sex couples married in Oklahoma less than 3 months after the landmark Supreme Court ruling in 2015. Nationwide, almost 300,000 gay and lesbian couples have tied the knot since 2015. Same-sex weddings have boosted state and local economies by an estimated $3.8 billion since 2015. About $3.2 billion has been spent on…Read More
Beneficiary designations are widely used in financial and estate planning. These designations are commonly used to name the individuals or entities who are to receive the proceeds of life insurance policies, annuities or retirement plans after the death of the owner. Through the use of beneficiary designations, many assets can be transferred after death without any…Read More
