We have worked with families that are trying to deal with estate planning mistakes that were made by loved ones. Because of this experience, we are aware of the missteps that people commonly take, and we will share a couple of them here in an effort to raise awareness. Intestacy Surveys that measure the estate planning preparedness of Americans consistently yield disturbing results. Everyone is going to pass away someday, but the vast majority of people in this country do not have estate plans … [Read more...] about Avoid These Estate Planning Missteps
DIY estate planning
Estate Planning: Separate Fact From Fiction
People sometimes pass along “information” about estate planning that is untrue or incomplete, and this can lead to mistakes that yield negative consequences. In this post, we will look at a handful of estate planning myths that can lead you astray. DIY estate planning is a simple solution. You can buy generic, fill-in-the-blanks legal documents online, and these companies sell will and trust templates. They contend that anyone can plan their own estate using these products. There are a … [Read more...] about Estate Planning: Separate Fact From Fiction
Is a Handwritten Will Valid?
Most people do not have estate plans in place, and there are those that decide to take the matter into their own hands at some point. They will literally get out a pen and paper and record their final wishes, and they assume that the document will be valid. In order for a will to be valid in the state of Connecticut, the testator must be at least 18 years of age, and they must be of sound mind. They have to sign the document in the presence of two witnesses, and the witnesses must sign the … [Read more...] about Is a Handwritten Will Valid?
Five Reasons You Need a Lawyer to Plan Your Estate
The majority of American adults are going through life without estate plans, even though most people that reply to surveys say that planning is important. Since there is so much procrastination, there is a temptation to create your own estate plan to get it out of the way. This makes sense on the surface, and a lot of people roll up their sleeves to undertake DIY projects. However, you have to know where to draw the line, and you really shouldn’t take on some tasks that are better left to the … [Read more...] about Five Reasons You Need a Lawyer to Plan Your Estate
Can I Get My Estate Plan Online?
We are conditioned to think that we can do just about anything on our own with some type of tool that we obtain online. This mentality extends into the estate planning realm, because there are websites that sell generic legal documents of all kinds, including simple wills and trusts. Why would people rely on these sketchy “solutions” that sound too good to be true? The popular website Caring.com conducts research on an ongoing basis to gauge the estate planning preparedness of American … [Read more...] about Can I Get My Estate Plan Online?
Avoid These Three Estate Planning Mistakes
People often make estate planning errors that yield negative consequences. In this post, we are going to look at three of these common mistakes in an effort to raise awareness. Do-It-Yourself Estate Planning The websites that sell generic, boilerplate legal documents contend that you can plan your own estate using their worksheets and downloads. This can seem like a simple, affordable solution, but there are reasons why you may want to consider before you go this route. There are various … [Read more...] about Avoid These Three Estate Planning Mistakes
Estate Planning Myths Vanquished
Far too many people harbor misconceptions about various aspects of the estate planning process. Unfortunately, in many cases, they wind up making uninformed decisions that yield negative consequences. In an effort to spread awareness, we will debunk some of these myths here. You can plan your own estate using tools that you get off the Internet. There are websites that sell boilerplate legal documents. They provide some instructions, and you fill in the blanks on a template. The contention is … [Read more...] about Estate Planning Myths Vanquished
