Our Insights - Trust and Estate Planning

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Trust and Estate Planning

• Avoiding Probate

  Probate is the process of proving the validity of a will and supervising the administration of an estate usually in the probate court. State law governs the proceedings in the probate court, so the process can vary from state to state.

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• Year-End Charitable Giving

  With the holiday season upon us and the end of the year approaching, we pause to give thanks for our blessings and the people in our lives. It is also a time when charitable giving often comes to mind.

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• Special Needs Trusts (Opens in a new Window)

  A special needs trust (or supplemental needs trust) is an estate planning tool that can help provide for the needs of an individual who is disabled without jeopardizing his or her eligibility for government benefits.

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• Planning for the Future with an ABLE Account (Opens in a new Window)

  If you or a family member has a disability, you may be interested in learning about a tax-advantaged option called an ABLE account which can be used to save or invest for qualified disability expenses. Most states have launched ABLE programs, and more are in the works.

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• Managing Medical Care When Your Child Has Special Needs (Opens in a new Window)

  As the parent of a child with special needs, you'll face certain challenges when it comes to coordinating medical care. You may often need to act as an advocate for your child's best interests. To be effective in that role, you'll need to be prepared.

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• Government-Sponsored Disability Insurance Programs (Opens in a new Window)

  Government-sponsored disability insurance programs are programs designed or mandated by federal, state, and local governments to provide basic income protection, and sometimes medical benefits, to disabled individuals.

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• Providing for Your Child with Special Needs After Your Death (Opens in a new Window)

  Preparing for the day when you won't be around to care for your family is a challenge that all parents face. But as a parent of a child with special needs, your estate planning needs are especially complex.

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• When Your Child Has Special Needs (Opens in a new Window)

  As the parent of a child with special needs, you face many of the same challenges that any parent faces. But you'll have to cope with some unique financial, medical, educational, and legal issues as well.

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• Divorce and Estate Planning (Opens in a new Window)

  Wills for both spouses are often drawn up sometime during the marriage--particularly if there are children involved. When divorce is contemplated, the selection of beneficiaries and executors will likely be revised to reflect the absence of your former spouse.

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• Year-End Charitable Giving (Opens in a new Window)

  With the holiday season upon us and the end of the year approaching, we pause to give thanks for our blessings and the people in our lives. It is also a time when charitable giving often comes to mind.

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• The New Estate Tax Rules and Your Estate Plan (Opens in a new Window)

  The Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010 (the 2010 Tax Act) included new gift, estate, and generation-skipping transfer (GST) tax provisions.

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• Conducting a Periodic Review of Your Estate Plan (Opens in a new Window)

  With your estate plan successfully implemented, one final but critical step remains: carrying out a periodic review and update.

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• Introduction to Estate Planning (Opens in a new Window)

  Estate planning is a method for determining how to distribute your property during your life and at your death.

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• Key Estate Planning Documents You Need (Opens in a new Window)

  There are five estate planning documents you may need, regardless of your age, health, or wealth.

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• Asset Protection in Estate Planning (Opens in a new Window)

  You're beginning to accumulate substantial wealth, but you worry about protecting it from future potential creditors.

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• ESTATE PLANNING: Five tips to help create an effective estate plan (Opens in a new Window)

  Spending time up front in the planning process will help you identify key areas or gaps in your current estate plan.

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• Advanced Estate Planning Concepts for Women (Opens in a new Window)

  Read the article to learn more.

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• Charitable Giving (Opens in a new Window)

  A gift to charity is simply a gratuitous transfer of property to a charitable organization.

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