Many people think of estate planning as what happens after you die. Estate planning is much more than that. Estate planning is about planning for the future and all its unknowns. It requires you to think about and plan for things like accidents, medical emergencies, long term illnesses, and all sorts of things that could …
What’s a Designation of Health Care Surrogate and Why Do I Need One? Read More »
A will can designate guardians for minor children, instruct how your assets (house, life insurance policies, retirement accounts, investments, cryptocurrency, bank accounts, car, pets, etc.), will be distributed, and keep your family out of conflict after your death. A will is a good estate planning tool, but like trusts, whether a will is the best estate planning tool for your family depends on your unique situation. Here are some advantages and disadvantages you can consider when deciding whether a will is right for you.
What is a Revocable Living Trust? I like to think of these types of trusts as a chest where you put your stuff for safekeeping. If you’re ever incapacitated, the chest has instructions for what happens to the money, property, or whatever you put in there. If your stuff is still in the chest when …
5 Things You Need to Know About Revocable Living Trusts Read More »
If Obergefell is overturned, whether same-sex marriage is legal would come down to what state you live in. Florida has a Statute banning same-sex marriage. Under Obergefell this law isn’t valid. If Obergefell is overturned, Florida would no longer recognize same-sex marriages unless that law is changed.
Picking a guardian for your kids is probably going to be the hardest decision you make when you’re going through your Family Estate Planning Process. It’s tough to think you won’t be there to raise your kids so you should take the time to make a decision you’re happy with. Remember, these decisions are not set in stone. Your Family Estate Plan evolves and changes as your life evolves and changes. If you pick someone and three years from now, you’re just not as close as you used to be, you are able to change your guardian.
There are many mistakes you can make when you DIY your estate plan. Here are some of the most common ones that can result in court intervention, division of assets according to state law, and DCF involvement in the placement of your children.
Why hire an attorney? DIYing your estate plan could mean invalid documents, probate, and DCF intervention. A qualified attorney will help take control of what happens if you’re not around giving you peace of mind. At IGS Legal we focus on families with young children because we understand that making sure your kids are taken care of is your top priority. Through our estate planning process, we know its not just about assets. We make sure that if you’re not around your children are safe, protected, and taken care of by someone you know and trust.
