Tag Archives: wills
What Should Be on Your Estate Planning Checklist?
Estate planning can be easy to put off as something you only need to worry about later in life. However, an estate plan is essential for everyone, regardless of age or financial status. Having a comprehensive plan in place can help ensure that your assets are distributed according to your wishes and that your loved […]
Writing a Will That Stands Up Against Challenges
A last will and testament is a fundamental part of an estate plan. Your will expresses your directions for how your property will be managed and distributed upon your death. Although a properly executed will is usually enforced, your will may be contested by heirs or other parties asserting that it is legally deficient or […]
Using POD and TOD Designations to Keep Assets Out of Probate
Probate is the legal process by which a court decides how your estate will be settled among your creditors, heirs and beneficiaries when you die. Because probate can be long, complicated and costly, many people choose to create estate plans designed to exclude sizable portions of their property from the process. That means putting a […]
Estate Planning for Blended Families
Every family and therefore every estate plan can be considered unique. However, a special set of challenges is presented when children from previous relationships are involved. Wills, trusts and other documents must be highly specific as to how the estate assets are to be managed and distributed. According to data from the Pew Research Center, […]
What Kinds of Disputes Can Arise Over a Will?
No matter how carefully a will is drafted, disagreements sometimes arise among heirs and others concerning the will’s authenticity or about the proper distribution of the deceased person’s assets. A will contest is a formal challenge lodged during probate court proceedings by an interested party, who under Arizona law may be a beneficiary named in […]
