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When a hospital or health care provider asks a patient who their emergency contact is, many patients incorrectly assume that their emergency contact is able to make medical decisions for them.  [...]

While everyone needs individualized legal advice on what language their estate planning documents should contain, the following are some of the most common and important clauses which should be [...]

To minimize your family’s level of distress and conflict after your death, consider writing a letter of instruction to ensure they understand and will honor your desires.  This letter is not to [...]

You may have done estate planning to designate who your major assets, such as homes, vehicles, and life insurance policies, will be passed along to but incorporating smaller personal belongings [...]

It is important for Trustees of irrevocable life insurance trusts to understand their duties which exist even while the insured is alive.  Some of the most important duties are: The Trustee must [...]

If for financial or tax reasons you do not wish to receive an asset for which you are a beneficiary, you can use a qualified disclaimer to pass this asset instead to other listed beneficiaries.  [...]

During estate planning, it is crucial to learn about the different levels of privacy that various estate planning documents provide you.  If you choose to leave assets through a will, that will [...]

When getting remarried later in life, you must consider how that marriage will affect your previous plan to leave assets to beneficiaries such as children from previous marriages.  Most think [...]

            Besides naming a specific individual as the beneficiary of your life insurance trust, you can name a trust as beneficiary.  This can be helpful in ensuring the money in this policy [...]

Fighting over an inheritance can both cause significant family tension and a reduction in the inheritance heirs will receive due to legal fees.  To avoid this situation, you must set up a very [...]