Category: Estate Planning

Testators planning their estates or reviewing their documents sometimes need more than just a will. Wills are common testamentary instruments that let people choose their beneficiaries or name a guardian for their minor children. However, wills only take effect after their authors die. They also typically only facilitate the immediate transfer of property to specific […]

Many of your beneficiaries may be legal adults as you draft your estate plan. This means you can directly leave assets to them as you see fit. They can take control of financial accounts or real estate, for example. This becomes more complicated if you have a beneficiary who is a minor. In many cases, […]

Life insurance can be a major part of anyone’s estate. Maybe you have a substantial policy that’s going to pay $1 million to your family when you pass away. Your plan may be to divide that money between your primary beneficiaries, such as your adult children. You might think that the only step you need […]

With a power of attorney, the goal is to give someone else the right to take action on your behalf. For example, a medical power of attorney allows you to choose an agent who is legally authorized to make medical decisions on your behalf if necessary. Without a power of attorney in place, they may […]

Adults need to ensure they have plans made for their medical care if they can’t make the decisions for themselves. There are two components of an estate plan that can make it possible for someone else to make those decisions for you. As part of your estate plan, you need to set an advanced medical […]

Creating an estate plan is a critical step for all adults because it’s a chance for them to make their wishes known. There are several components that you have to think about when you’re making your estate plan, many of which set the plan for your assets after you die. Your will is one option […]

A will is a legal document that outlines the final wishes of the testator. Once the testator has passed, the will goes through probate. This is the legal process that ensures everything is above board with the will. Generally, wills go through probate without issues, but that isn’t always the case. Sometimes, an interested party […]

Estate planning mostly revolves around distributing assets upon a person’s death. This can be done in several ways and by using documents like a will and trusts. The starting point of any estate plan is a will. What are some of the key functions of this important document? 1. Naming beneficiaries Firstly, a will allows […]

After identifying a loved one with the qualities you believe an executor should possess, you need to ask them to be your estate’s executor. This conversation allows you to know if they are willing to accept the role. So, how can you handle this conversation? 1. State the reason for the meeting When you meet […]

Andre Pennington, founder of Pennington Law, PLLC and a registered financial planner®, recently published an article explaining the importance of financial planning as a core component of a comprehensive estate plan in Forbes Magazine.  Estate planning attorneys sometimes overlook the importance of financial planning when developing strategies to maximize their clients’ wealth and ensure a […]