A will is a legal document that speaks for you when you are no longer around to speak for yourself. With a written will, you can have peace of mind knowing that your assets will go to the people or causes you love and care about. But can you put anything in your will?...
Cherry Hill NJ Probate & Estate Administration Law Blog
How to talk to your parents about estate planning
Discussing estate planning with your parents is possibly one of the most challenging things. However, the chances are you have seen or heard of incidents where families had a difficult time with inheritances and would like to change the narrative for yours. Thus, if...
Avoiding common estate planning missteps
Whether you have had an estate plan in place for some time or you’ve never crafted one, it’s important to understand the common estate planning missteps that too many American adults make so that you can avoid making these mistakes yourself. The first and most...
Encouraging a parent’s estate planning without undue influence
Often, older people need some convincing to put an estate plan in place. No one likes to consider what will happen after they die. Ironically, the longer you put off developing an estate plan and the older you are when you do, the more unnerving that task can be. ...
Can anyone challenge your will if they don’t inherit?
One reason that people will challenge a will or an estate plan is when they discover that they didn’t inherit anything and they hoped that they would. For instance, someone may claim that the will is fraudulent because the individual who passed away would have never...
How do you fund a living trust?
A trust can be an important tool in your estate plan. Choosing a living trust gives you the flexibility you will not get if you choose an irrevocable one. You cannot predict the future, so being able to access assets or alter the trust terms is often a good option to...
What is an “I love you” will?
When someone is writing a will, they may decide to leave everything that they own to their spouse. This is commonly referred to as an I love you will. It is a declaration of love because the full estate is going to one person. For example, this sometimes happens with...
Do you need a medical power of attorney?
A medical power of attorney (POA) is a legal document that allows you to appoint someone to make healthcare decisions for you if you are incapacitated. You do not need to have lingering health issues to have medical power of attorney. An unexpected event like an...
A trust can help foolproof your estate plans
It helps to look ahead when making your estate plans and plan for unexpected occurrences that may negatively affect your estate. A lot can happen when you are gone, and it may be too late to save the day. Picture a situation where your kin defaults on a debt, leaving...
What is a power of attorney, and why is it important?
Estate planning goes beyond leaving your assets and property to loved ones after you are gone. It also involves planning for other eventualities, such as mental or physical incapacitation. This is where the power of attorney comes in. A power of attorney (POA) is a...