"Ethical Considerations in Estate Planning" by Attorney Jon Gasior (Audio) The relationship between an estate planning attorney and their client(s) is one that is unique among the attorney-client relationship. Often, the client is sharing information with the attorney about their assets, families, potential conflicts, and wishes for what happens when they pass away or are incapacitated. Because … [Read more...] about Ethical Considerations in Estate Planning
The Importance of a Properly Funded Trust
You signed your Revocable Living Trust and left your final signing appointment with your documents and a folder of “funding homework.” The paralegal reviewed letters of instruction to take to your financial institutions and completed change of beneficiary forms. So what now? And why is this step so important to having an estate plan that will work in the event of your incapacity or death? A … [Read more...] about The Importance of a Properly Funded Trust
Considerations Before Starting Your Estate Plan
During the process of creating your estate plan, you will be forced to make difficult decisions. It is important to take the time to think about your decisions carefully. Let’s talk about the things you will want to consider before starting your estate plan. What do you want to accomplish with your estate planning? Who do you want to pass your assets to? Do you have specific wishes … [Read more...] about Considerations Before Starting Your Estate Plan
Should I Have An Estate Plan If I’m Single?
There is no question that estate planning is often talked about in terms of planning for married couples and families. However, in many ways, estate planning for a single person is more complex than for a married couple. For many married couples, the spouse is the person they trust to make decisions about the disposal of assets and management of medical and financial decisions if they become … [Read more...] about Should I Have An Estate Plan If I’m Single?
How to Fund Your Revocable Living Trust
A Living Trust is a way to hold title to assets, just like sole ownership or joint tenancy. The main reasons most individuals choose an estate plan that includes a Revocable Living Trust is to avoid probate. The only way to accomplish this is to set up the trust properly and fund your trust. Funding a trust is the process of transferring your assets to the ownership of your trust. Once ownership … [Read more...] about How to Fund Your Revocable Living Trust
Why Legacy Planning Is Important
You probably know why it is important to have an estate plan in place; however, do you know what legacy planning is? The idea behind the concept of legacy planning is to take estate planning to the next level. Legacy planning allows you to incorporate your ideals, beliefs, values, and faith into your estate planning endeavors. Instead of simply leaving behind assets, legacy planning lets you … [Read more...] about Why Legacy Planning Is Important
Does a Child Born Out of Wedlock Inherit from My Estate?
In the absence of even a simple Last Will and Testament, your estate will be distributed according to the intestate succession laws of your state of residency at the time of your death. In most cases, that means that a spouse and/or children will inherit your estate. What happens if you have a child born out of wedlock? Will that child inherit from your estate? The Annapolis estate planning … [Read more...] about Does a Child Born Out of Wedlock Inherit from My Estate?
Why Do I Need a Will?
If you have yet to create even a basic estate plan, you have likely had to listen to well-meaning friends and family encouraging you to get started. It helps to understand why it is so important to have that plan in place. Toward that end, a Bowie estate planning attorney at Sinclair Prosser Gasior explains why you don’t want to die intestate. Intestate vs. Intestate Estates When a … [Read more...] about Why Do I Need a Will?
What Your Estate Plan Can Do for You
When you think about creating an initial estate plan, you likely focus entirely on the need to create a roadmap for the distribution of your estate assets in the event of your death. While that certainly will always remain an important estate planning goal. You will undoubtedly include additional goals into your estate plan over time. The best way to decide which estate planning goals should be … [Read more...] about What Your Estate Plan Can Do for You
Estate Planning Mistakes to Avoid Making
Creating an estate plan is one of the most important endeavors you will undertake during your lifetime. A well-thought-out estate plan can protect and provide for you and your loved ones. Given the importance of your estate plan, it only makes sense to do everything possible to avoid making mistakes during the creation of your plan. Toward that end, an Annapolis estate planning attorney at … [Read more...] about Estate Planning Mistakes to Avoid Making
