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
Access to your digital assets and accounts in the event of your disability or death is an important part of any estate plan. Every year your digital presence grows. Some of your digital accounts may be tied to your bank accounts and some may not. Either way, you should have an ongoing list of all…Read More
Wills and trusts are important elements in any comprehensive estate plan. These legal documents are called “living documents”. Most people realize it is important to have a will and/or trust, but many forget to update them as changes in their situation occur. Those who create a will or trust using an estate planning website usually…Read More
T The year 2021 has arrived, and along with it the COVID vaccine. As people get vaccinated across Oklahoma City, and the spread of the COVID virus is starting to lessen, we are still not out of the woods yet. The rapid increase in the number of people getting their wills, advance directives, and…Read More
If you are in a second marriage or planning another trip down the aisle, then estate planning can get complicated very fast. You probably want to provide for your current spouse but not inadvertently benefit your former spouse. If you have children from either marriage, then juggling their interests can be a challenge. Take Inventory…Read More
Taking care of an aging parent can bring a unique set of challenges for both you and your parent. First of all, talk with your parents about estate planning. Do they have a will? Do they have a medical directive readily accessible? When the time comes, have they thought about who they would designate as…Read More
