Learning More About Estate Planning

According to one estimate, about a quarter of all marriages and nearly two-thirds (63%) of remarriages involve stepchildren. No matter how loving and successful, such arrangements often pose unique personal and financial challenges that may only intensify as wealth transfers from one generation to the next. For these reasons, careful estate planning, while highly recommended for any family, is especially vital for blended ones.

If you are asking What’s the cheapest way to do a living will you’re already doing one of the most loving things you can for your family. The good news is, you do not have to spend a lot. With the rise of digital estate planning tools, creating a living will is easier, faster, and far more affordable than ever before.

If you’re wondering what the 7 steps in the estate planning process are, you’re not alone. Thousands of people are searching for answers every day, looking for simple and straight-forward estate planning tools and free estate planning advice. Let’s walk through the 7 steps of estate planning, simplified for families like yours.

Anyone in the US can create a will on their own using online estate planning tools. As long as the will meets your state’s rules, like being written, signed, and witnessed properly, it is legally binding. But here is the problem: most people don’t know all the little details that matter. And missing just one can lead to big problems later on.

Estate planning is one of the most important steps you can take to protect your loved ones and ensure your wishes are honored after you are gone. When beginning your estate planning journey, many wonder: is it better to have a will or trust? The answer depends on your unique situation, but understanding the key differences can help you make an informed decision.

What does it mean to really show up for a mom this Mother’s Day? Maybe it looks like taking something off her plate. Maybe it looks like helping her sleep better at night. Maybe it means finally starting a conversation she hasn’t had the space or energy to initiate.

That’s where an estate plan comes into the equation.

There is an increasing population of single people without children – and they realize they need an estate plan. These people can be successful individuals who don’t have a spouse or child to leave their assets. If you are a part of this demographic, here are some tips...

Blended families are incredibly common, and this term encompasses a vast array of family situations. Very often, however, blended families involve a marriage in which one or both spouses have children from a prior relationship. Sometimes the couple also has children in common, but this is not always the case. Because families are all different and the term blended family can mean so many things, the standard estate planning documents may not be enough to satisfy your planning goals.

After losing a spouse or longtime partner, it’s difficult to look past your grief. However, it’s crucial to understand the important and timely decisions you must make regarding your finances and personal estate plan. Estate planning is an ongoing process, as it accounts for changes in marriages, deaths, divorces, and births of children and grandchildren. Assuming your spouse left an updated estate plan before their passing can have disastrous consequences.

We believe estate planning should be simple, clear, and personal. Whether you are building generational wealth, caring for aging parents, or wondering do I need a will, our online estate planning services are here to help you every step of the way.

Some of the biggest changes to the tax code are permanent, including lower income tax rates, higher standard deduction amounts and higher estate and gifting exemptions.

New accounts for newborns, modeled after traditional IRAs, allow parents to save money specifically for future expenses for their children.

One of the most important parts of estate planning is determining how to divide your assets. But what if you don't have a spouse, children, or other obvious heirs? Passing without a will or immediate heirs increases the odds your money will go to someone you'd rather it not.

Statistics show that 60 percent of men and 20 percent of women are either involved in a new relationship or remarried within two years of losing a spouse. When it comes to estate planning, widowers are usually most interested in protecting an inheritance for their own children and that is when the role of a trust comes into play.

Unmarried people should put a priority on developing the traditional estate planning documents that don’t pertain to disposition of property: the health care proxy (or advance medical directive or living will) and financial power of attorney. Without these documents, when the single person is unable to make medical decisions or take care of financial matters, there might not be someone to make decisions whose authority will be readily recognized.

Drawing up a will can be an emotionally taxing process. But it’s one that becomes especially difficult when a spouse is left to cope with the task after their partner passes away. Suddenly, what was once a joint decision made with a lifelong partner becomes a task a widow must face alone.

If you aren't married and have no children, you may think you don't need an estate plan. But nothing could be further from the truth. Unlike with married couples, there could be no specific person who can legally make medical decisions for you should you become incapacitated. And if you were to die without an estate plan, your property would likely go through the probate process and potentially be awarded to a beneficiary you never would have chosen yourself.

Whether you're a first-time planner or a seasoned estate holder, InHeirit can help you navigate the process and make sure your estate is in good hands.