A trust is an important estate planning tool that can help estate planners achieve their estate planning goals. For that reason, estate planners should be familiar with the benefits of a trust and what is can do for them. Avoid probate: the probate process can be...
Estate Planning
What will happen if a North Carolina resident has no will?
If a North Carolina resident dies without a valid will, then his or her probate estate will get divided in a process called intestate succession. Intestate succession will not apply to property that is not subject to probate. For example, real estate or bank accounts...
More information on Medicaid planning
As readers of this blog are aware, we often talk about estate planning. Indeed, last week, we spoke about long-term care planning and including Medicaid in an estate plan. In this week’s post, we will dive deeper into how to qualify for Medicaid. Basic requirements As...
Should I be planning for Medicaid?
When most people think of estate planning, they usually think of executing a will or setting aside assets in a trust. Medicaid doesn’t come up as often but, if you think you may need help with long-term care as you get older, planning for it can be critical. North...
Have you seen these five red flags of a breached fiduciary duty?
Administering an estate can be an honorable endeavor, but it can also be stressful. A lot of people misunderstand what the process entails, and that can lead them to stray from the law. In other instances, estate administrators simply see the opportunity for personal...
What are the requirements for a will to be valid?
When an estate planner has a will they can rest assured that their belongings will be distributed how they want them to be distributed and to who they want them to be distributed. Certain requirements must be met for a will to be valid so estate planners should also...
What makes a will valid?
Many Fayetteville area residents have gone through the process of creating a will. This is a good way to ensure their wishes are followed when they pass away. But it is important to make sure the will is a valid legal document. So, what makes a will valid? The will...
What are the important documents to include in an estate plan?
Thinking ahead and planning for the future includes estate planning. Estate planning can help estate planners ensure they are cared for if they are unable to care for themselves at any point and also ensure their loved ones are cared for when they are gone. To...
What happens if you can’t find your mother’s will?
When a parent passes away it is often an emotionally hard time for a Fayetteville area resident. Even if the death was expected it can be hard to have to both mourn the loss of a parent and deal with their estate. If a person believes that their parent had a will but...
Want to avoid probate? Here are some options
The probate process can be a cumbersome, costly, and stress experience. For these reasons, people are quick to avoid it – although this is easier said than done. However, with some prudent thinking and the help of a tax and estates lawyer, you can skip probate court,...