In estate planning, trusts are a valuable tool that can make it easier to give your assets to your loved ones when you pass away. With a trust, you create a legal arrangement where a trustee holds and manages your assets for the benefit of your beneficiaries. It is...
Estate Planning
How can you avoid beneficiary designation mistakes?
While wills are a crucial aspect of estate planning, they are not the only tool in your arsenal. Certain assets include beneficiary designations, which are documents that stipulate who should receive assets after you are gone. Beneficiary designations accompany life...
5 reasons for a will update that you may not have considered
Changes happen all the time in life, and they often come with consequences that require further attention. Since you wrote your will, significant changes have likely occurred in your life, and some might have an effect on your final wishes. Here are five reasons for a...
Is a holographic will legal in North Carolina?
There are a variety of ways for you to create your will. However, you do it, the most important thing is for you to ensure that it is legal. One option you may consider is a handwritten or holographic will. This type of document may not work in all situations because...
3 reasons young couples should have an estate plan
When starting out as a newly married couple, you may feel like estate planning only applies to older, wealthy couples. According to a Caring.com survey, one in three people claim not having enough assets as the reason for not having a will. In reality, even young...
Steps to prevent a will contest
Most people consider estate planning as a comprehensive process and do not give much thought to the risk of loved ones contesting the will. Unfortunately, contesting a will is easier than you might think. The good news is that there are things you can do to reduce the...
How should I set up a springing power of attorney?
A medical power of attorney is someone you designate to make health care decisions for you in the event you become incapacitated due to injury or illness. However, you may worry about giving so much power to another person. One option is to create a springing...
What are advance directives and how important are they?
When thinking about your will, you may start to wonder what would happen in an emergency situation. If you get hurt, you could be in the hospital and unresponsive, which would mean someone else would have to make medical decisions for you. Learning about advance...
3 things your future executor should know
When you create your North Carolina estate plan, an important part of doing so involves naming an executor, or a personal representative, who is going to manage your estate once you die. Most people name an executor in whom they have a great deal of trust, but there...
The difference between a will and a trust
Estate planning is essential for any individual with significant assets and potential beneficiaries who may inherit them. This process establishes a legal procedure for how, where, why and to whom to transfer certain assets following your death, so the future of your...