Don’t delay finalizing your estate plan, because determining who to name as your executor is difficult. Here’s some help to figure out how to make this important decision. If there are no family members or friends with the necessary skills, your best option may be to name your attorney as…
Choosing an executor is not easy, but it is very important. A person who is not capable of managing the tasks can drive even the best estate plan off the path. Part of creating an estate plan is naming an executor who will be responsible for carrying out the wishes…
If a financial institution does not accept a properly prepared power of attorney, you will have to know your rights and be prepared to assert yourself. A power of attorney is an estate planning basic; however, more often than you would expect, people find themselves being told by financial institutions…
A lot of details go into being an executor, and some people find it a thankless task. But knowing that you helped someone you love carry out his or her last wishes holds its own reward. Most people are honored when they learn that they have been named executor of…
If you don't believe any friends or family members can serve as your executor, what are your options? A question is raised by a well-to-do husband who is concerned that his wife is not prepared to handle a significant estate if he should predecease her. The couple has no children,…
The same level of advance planning needed for a new baby or for a child going to college is necessary for retirement and estate planning. Decisions about housing, income, health care and your heirs' lives after you pass away are not always easily made. These decisions involve emotional, financial and…
A jumbo sized battle in a high profile and seemingly never-ending estate matter highlights what may appear to be a minor detail in estate planning but what is in fact an important consideration: the executor fee. According to a recent Wall Street Journal article, "Battle Involving Leona Helmsley Estate Spotlights…
An executor of an estate can easily get into trouble for not doing certain things, but an executor can also find themselves in trouble if they do certain things. An experienced estate planning attorney can help with navigating the do’s and don’ts of the executor’s tasks. There are no lack…