News & Resources
Joint Tenancy and the Right of Survivorship
Many people register ownership of homes as joint tenants because of the estate planning advantages. With its right of survivorship, a surviving owner can assume the deceased’s interest upon the death of a joint tenant. Surviving owners thinking of selling often overlook that title must be transferred to them…
Personal Planning Documents: Powers of Attorney
While people recognize the importance of estate planning many fail to consider the importance of personal planning documents that are in effect during their lifetime. A power of attorney is a document that appoints a person, called an attorney, to make financial and legal decisions on your behalf. The…
Joint Account Survivorship
Considering making or updating your will? Don’t forget to review your banking arrangements. Although a commonly used device between spouses or relatives, a joint account doesn’t always include survivorship rights. Mere deposit of funds into a joint account has, in some cases, been insufficient to show the primary depositor’s intent…
How to Administer an Estate
You are the executor named in the Will and have obtained a grant of probate – the right to deal with the deceased person’s assets – and you now want to administer the estate. Estate administration involves gathering the assets, paying the deceased’s debts, and distributing what remains. The…
Choosing An Executor
What should you consider when choosing an executor An executor is a person or company named in your will to carry out (“execute”) your wishes and distribute your estate when you die. The role of the executor is to gather up your assets, pay your debts, and divide what remains…
Personal Planning Documents: Powers of Attorney
While people recognize the importance of estate planning many fail to consider the importance of personal planning documents that are in effect during their lifetime. A power of attorney is a document that appoints a person, called an attorney, to make financial and legal decisions on your behalf. The…
Mutual Wills
A tool to help ensure your children aren’t disinherited When spouses only have children together (i.e. no stepchildren), there is typically little concern that their children will eventually receive their cumulative estate. In the case of blended families, things can be more complicated. Consider the example where a husband and wife…
Is The Government Going To Get Your Estate?
A common misconception is that the government will inherit your estate if you die without a will. Your estate will only go to the government (called escheat) if you die without a will and have no surviving spouse, descendants, parents, grandparents or great-grandparents and also have no surviving descendants…