As a new or soon-to-be parent, you begin to realize that there is very little you would not do to protect your beloved children. Babyproofing your home and finding the perfect car seat are important steps, of course, but have you created a contingency plan to ensure your child continues to receive amazing care once you are no longer around? Do you k...

Divorce holds considerable implications not only for your financial future, but also for the future of your loved ones and even your medical care. To that end, it is imperative that you revisit your estate plan as soon as you seek divorce or separation. Keep the following estate planning considerations in mind as you proceed with your divorce. Befor...

If you have an estate plan already in place, then you have started off on the right path. If you do not have one yet, it is time to get one drawn up so you can have a plan in place. However, once you have your estate plan made, it is not......

Giving someone authority to act on your behalf through a power of attorney is a major decision. The person who grants that authority is known as the principal or maker; the person getting the authority is known as the attorney-in-fact or......

An estate plan is something that everyone should have in place. Whether you only need one estate planning document or all of them will depend on your specific situation. While you may already have one component, such as a will, it may not be......

It is not fun to think about, but do you know what you would want to happen if you were in an accident or became so ill you could not make decisions for yourself? And more importantly, do others know your wishes? A living will—also called an......

If you are injured in an accident, having surgery, or develop a condition that makes it impossible for you to make your own decisions, then a representative you choose can make decisions on your behalf. When you appoint a medical power of......

Americans generally prefer not to think too much about what will happen to their assets and loved ones when they pass away. An estate planning survey by Harris Interactive revealed some surprising statistics about the number of adult Americans......

With the New Year approaching, it is often the time when people make plans for the future. No matter what age you are, you should still have an estate plan. Something unexpected could happen to you at any time. Losing your life is rarely......

Death is a fact of life. Some of us die young while others live to a ripe old age. That’s one fact we simply can’t get around. Yet even while we know that someday the inevitable will happen, most of us aren’t prepared for it. Do you really want to leave your loved ones in a quandary about your estate? Wills, trusts, and estate plans aren’t just for...