Estate Planning Basics

From minimizing estate taxes to taking control of your future healthcare and asset distribution, learn from estate planning professionals in our Estate Planning Basics section.

Recent Stories

Annual Checkup: Is Your Estate Plan Up-to-Date?
Feb 2012

Having an estate plan is an important step toward protecting your family for the future. Keeping it up-to-date is just as important as having one in place, especially if your wishes and circumstances have recently changed. more...

The Probate Process: Four Simple Steps
Oct 2011

The last thing family and friends want is to have estate matters drawn out for months after someone dies. Knowing what probate actually involves will help ease fears about the process—one that isn’t always as complex as you might think. more...

Living Trusts 101: Funding and Managing a Living Trust
Jul 2011

A living trust gives you one of the most flexible ways to plan your estate. But once you get a living trust, then what? There are a few important steps to follow to make sure your living trust does what you intended it to do—distribute your assets based on your wishes while avoiding probate. Find out how to fund your living trust, how long it lasts and whether or not it’s the only estate planning tool you’ll need. more...

Simple Estate Planning Tool for Couples: The Mirror Will
Jun 2011

Whether married or unmarried, chances are, you’ve thought about how to plan your estate. While you have several estate planning tools at your disposal, there is one—mirror wills—that could work if you mostly agree on how to handle your estate. Read on for more information about mirror wills—including what they are, how they work and who they protect—to help you determine if this simple estate planning tool is right for you. more...