It is great that American seniors are living longer than ever before, however, this also means that many will eventually need long term care. Unfortunately, these necessary services are very expensive and can quickly deplete one’s entire life savings. If you need long term care, it can negatively affect your…
Are you a parent with young children or teenagers? Through your children, your legacy will carry on far beyond after you leave this earth. However, what if you unexpectedly pass away when your children are still minors? Who would take care of them and how would they be raised? While…
What would happen today if you were suddenly incapacitated and unable to make important medical decisions for yourself? A living will is a legal document that sets forth the medical treatment preferences you would want carried out in the unfortunate event that you are not physically able to communicate. Continue…
One of the most frequent questions that estate planners get is, “How do I avoid probate?” There are plenty of estate planning strategies for avoiding probate. For example, trust assets can be distributed outside of probate. Another method of keeping property intact without going through probate is through joint ownership….
A death in the family often brings loved ones together. Other times, though, disputes arise over who gets what. Sometimes, people feel blindsided by a family member’s decision. Others may be hurt or confused by beneficiary designations. These disputes can lead to complicated, lengthy, and expensive legal battles that can…
A will is one of the most important documents that you can create during your lifetime, allowing you to distribute your assets and belongings how you want and to whom you want. But what happens when someone disagrees with what the will states? The ability to contest a will exists…
Creating a plan for your assets after your death is a highly complicated process. There’s a lot of planning involved, including choosing which estate planning documents to include. Some of the most common estate planning documents include wills and trusts, and knowing which to choose can have a great impact…
Also known as an executor or administrator, a personal representative is Missouri’s name for a person who handles the distribution of an estate throughout the probate process. There are other tasks to complete as well, and understanding the obligations of a personal representative can help through the process. What is…
A will is an essential document in estate planning that allows you to describe how you want your assets and property to be distributed after you die. That’s not all it does, though; it’s an important part of end-of-life planning that can’t be ignored. Dying without a will can have…
Taxes are often a concern among those in the process of estate planning. Nobody wants to burden their loved ones with taxes after their death; similarly, people often worry about their estate being greatly reduced by taxes. Luckily, Missouri is a tax-friendly state for estate planners. Read more to learn…
