If you are an estate administrator tasked with the probate of an estate involving a large, expensive art collection, there are certain things that must be done in order to preserve harmony among the beneficiaries. Paintings, sculptures and other artwork can have great...
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Year: 2017
Keeping your estate plan current is essential
Having an estate plan is wise for those who want to ensure that their wishes for the dispensation of their assets are carried out after their death. With an estate plan, you can also designate who will make decisions regarding legal, financial and health matters for...
Should I use an attorney when making a will?
When you begin considering making a will, you may consider a number of different ways to go about it. Some people choose to simply make wills on their own, many of which meet the requirements needed to hold up in court. However, involving an attorney has a number of...
Potential problems for those executing powers of attorney
A loved one named you as the agent (also known as an attorney-in-fact) for his or her power of attorney (POA). Now the time has come for you to act on your designated responsibilities. When the person is no longer able to take care of his or her affairs, this role is...
Understand the challenges of serving as an executor
When creating an estate plan, there will come a point when you need to think long and hard about whom you name as the executor. While you may have many options, you need to make a final decision at some point. The first thing you should do is consider the many steps...
How can you prevent battles over your estate plan?
Recently, we discussed no contest clauses in wills. We noted that when people are found to have a legitimate reason to believe that all or part of a will should be contested, they can challenge it without fear of losing whatever inheritance they were given. If you...
What are your options when you inherit a home?
Your great aunt died, and you learn that because you were always her favorite, she left you her home. That may sound like an unexpected bit of good fortune amid the grief of losing a loved one. However, home ownership isn't all it's cracked up to be -- particularly if...
5 considerations if you’re the executor of an estate
Being the executor of a loved one's estate is no easy task and it's a very big responsibility. These responsibilities could feel overwhelming to the average California resident, especially if you've never served as an executor before. Consider the following if you've...
When does a no-contest clause not apply to a will challenge?
People often put no-contest clauses in their wills because they don't want their family members or others fighting over what they see as an unfair division of assets. These clauses may state that anyone who contests a will and tries to invalidate all or part of it is...
The benefits associated with setting up an incentive trust
Do you wish you could exert more control over the choices your child made in their lives and as they progress through adulthood? If so, you may find that an incentive trust can help ensure that happens. These types of trusts have become increasingly popular among...