Can I Stay in the House?

Asset Protection, Trust, Wills

Without preparation, the passing of a loved one can result in difficult and unexpected challenges.  In recent columns, I have addressed this point with the example of a second marriage in which the husband moved into the house already owned by his new spouse.  Upon...

One Way a Trust Can Protect Your Spouse

Trust

Your family, like all families, must deal with the challenges of life.  These are the challenges that come, usually unexpectedly, for ourselves and our loved ones.  I met with a man struggling to take care of his wife. She had profound dementia, and he was exhausted...

How a Trust Can Help Protect Your Family

Estate Planning, Trust

A properly drafted trust can be an extremely effective way for you to help set your children up for success. In fact, trust can allow parents to help their children in a way that a Will cannot. This can be especially true when children are dealing with serious...

Do You Need A Trust for Your Estate Plan?

Estate Planning, Trust

There are many situations in which a trust is useful.   For example, if you wish to avoid probate, a trust is very effective.  This is especially true if you own property in two different states. Probate is the process to ensure that property owned by a deceased...

Do You Need a Trust?

Estate Planning, Trust

Before addressing (in future posts) the reasons a trust can be extremely helpful, it may be helpful to know some reasons that people are told they should have a trust . . . but which may not be true. People are sometimes told to have a trust to avoid probate. Most...

Do I Need a Will or a Trust?

Estate Planning, Trust, Wills

Most people understand the basic purpose of a Will. It is the document that describes who will receive their assets when they die. A Will may be sufficient to address the wishes of many people. However, in many cases, a Will may not be sufficient to address specific...