Beneficiary Battle over Presley Estate Reveals Possible Problems in Estate Planning
A badly in debt woman dies leaving the proceeds of substantial insurance policies to her children only to have her trust contested by relatives who claim an amendment naming the children as beneficiaries is invalid with no witnesses, misspelled names, suspicious signatures and was never given to previous trustees for review as required by agreement. A long, expensive, and protracted legal battle likely is brewing.
Can You Prevent Family Fights over Inheritance?
In early 2022, Bloomberg News reported that Americans can expect to inherit $72.6 trillion over the next quarter century—more than twice as much as a decade ago. With so much potential generational wealth on the line, there is always a risk that it will become the subject of a dispute.
What Is the Purpose of a Pet Trust?
Many well-off pet owners have left millions of dollars to their cats, dogs and even chickens—perhaps most notoriously Leona Helmsley, who left US$12 million when she died in 2007 to her white Maltese dog Trouble.
Why are Trusts a Good Idea?
Whether you are trying to protect your assets from possible creditors, prevent young heirs from spending their inheritance or minimize estate taxes, there is likely a trust for you.
Are There Less Restrictive Alternatives to Guardianship
Although laws vary from state to state, every state requires that less restrictive alternatives be considered before invoking a guardianship. These might include such vehicles as limited guardianships, powers of attorney or assisted decision-making agreements.
Do I Need a Spendthrift Trust?
A spendthrift trust allows you to leave funds to a beneficiary without giving them full control over those funds.
Living Trust vs. Last Will – Which is Right for You?
In this article, we will address two terms which some people use interchangeably, but which are very different things: living trusts and estate plans.
What Is the Best Way to Leave Money to Children?
Providing for future generations shouldn’t be (overly) taxing. To manage taxes as you pass down your assets, look into UTMAs, 529s, child IRAs and trusts.
What Is a Pour-Over Will?
A pour-over will can be an important part of a person’s estate planning checklist.
What Can Trusts Do for Me and My Family?
Trusts are often associated with the rich, but the uber-wealthy are not the only people who can benefit from using trusts. There is no minimum asset level or net worth required to set up a trust, and you can put any amount of money into a trust.
