October Newsletter – National Estate Planning Awareness Week

October Newsletter – National Estate Planning Awareness Week

National Estate Planning Awareness Week We’re celebrating National Estate Planning Awareness Week! It’s time to raise awareness about the importance of estate planning and to encourage everyone to create a plan for their future. This month’s newsletter explores the top reasons for an up-to-date estate plan and the legal tools that typically comprise a complete…

How Property Co-ownership Affects Estate Planning

How Property Co-ownership Affects Estate Planning

Due to interest rates, low inventory, and inflation, the prices of homes have skyrocketed. For this reason, property co-ownership is common. People opt to partner with relatives or friends to buy property to lower individual costs. Nevertheless, jointly purchasing a house can give rise to complications, such as challenges related to inheritance. Therefore, when co-purchasing…

Navigating Undue Influence in Trust Contests: Proof from Circumstantial Evidence

Navigating Undue Influence in Trust Contests: Proof from Circumstantial Evidence

By Christine M. Allen, Esq. Trusts are powerful tools for individuals to manage and distribute their assets. Furthermore, they ensure their wishes are carried out after their passing. In addition, trusts ensure family members avoid the unnecessary costs and delays associated with probate. But what happens when an individual’s trust terms do not actually reflect…

Four Things Your Spouse Should Know

Four Things Your Spouse Should Know

Married couples typically share nearly every facet of their lives. However, even the most intimate partners may hesitate to broach certain subjects when discussing death. While discussions about burial arrangements and remarriage can be awkward, addressing them as integral components of crafting a thorough estate plan is essential. Estate planning is a profound gesture of…

Strategies for Executives to Achieve Their Estate Planning Objectives

Strategies for Executives to Achieve Their Estate Planning Objectives

As a business executive, you strategize and set goals for your professional endeavors. Have you taken the time to apply these skills to ensure the well-being of your family? If you still need to, our assistance is available to provide strategies for executives when estate planning. Protection from Lawsuits and Creditors Many executives enjoy protection…

Estrangement & Estate Planning

Estrangement & Estate Planning

Regrettably, family conflicts sometimes escalate beyond mere fleeting disagreements, leading to estrangement. Family estrangement refers to physical and emotional distancing among family. This separation often reaches a point where there is minimal or even no communication between family members for an extended time. For example, a parent may avoid contact with a child who has…

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Will Increase Insurance Coverage of Trust Bank Accounts

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Will Increase Insurance Coverage of Trust Bank Accounts

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) is an independent federal agency insuring deposits in U.S. banks in case of bank failure. The Banking Act of 1933 established the agency to restore public confidence in banks. As of 2023, the FDIC insures deposits up to $250,000. Most trust funds have bank accounts insured by FDIC. However,…