Individuals buying a home, adopting a child, completing estate planning documents, such as wills and advanced health care directives, or completing any number of legal procedures may find themselves in need of a notary.
Locking up certain important documents and valuables in a bank vault could turn into a headache for you or your heirs.
While a will is often part of an estate plan, an estate plan covers much more ground.
Every so often, it’s smart to methodically go through your estate planning documents and see if any tweaks are needed. Here’s a checklist to guide you through that mission.
A power of attorney is an important document. It is, nevertheless, frequently disregarded in estate planning. People usually concentrate their efforts on their wills and trusts, naming a power of attorney at the last minute.
Even though it is critical for your assets, family and legacy, estate planning tends to fall to the bottom of people’s to-do lists. What new parent wants to draft a will, while finalizing a nursery paint color?
As you know, a power of attorney (POA) allows another person, the Attorney-in-Fact (AIF), to conduct business on behalf of the principal. The POA authorizes the AIF to sign for and on behalf of the principal.
Many people have signed at least one power of attorney in their life. A power of attorney, which names a trusted family member, friend or advisor as your ‘attorney-in-fact’ to control your assets, is meant to be used if you are incapacitated.
Trust funds are not just for the ultra-rich. These sophisticated estate-planning tools can make just as much sense for middle-class Americans who own a home and have a net worth of at least $100,000.
Who needs long-term care insurance … and who might be able to do without it?