Understanding what you own and what you don’t own as part of your estate is important for the purposes of estate planning. Certain assets pass outside of the probate or estate process, and you’ll want to have appropriate plans in place to protect your loved ones for each type. Estate Assets Assets that are owned… Read More »
Posts Categorized: Assets
What Happens If Your Beneficiary Passes Away First on A Payable on Death Bank Account?
A payable on death bank account is a simple planning instrument that allows you to designate someone to receive the assets inside your account very quickly. If you named more than one payee on your payable on death bank account, this makes it easy for the second person to receive those funds if the original… Read More »
Why State Law Controlling Your Assets Is a Problem
You might assume that you do not have enough assets to warrant the creation of an estate plan, but this can be very problematic thinking. The primary reason for this is because the state will determine what happens to your assets not you if you pass away without an estate plan. Who is entitled to… Read More »
Why Is a Residuary Clause So Important?
In crafting your will, you probably sat down to make a comprehensive list of all of your assets and liabilities. This is so that you can create a specific bequest to your loved ones so that they receive the items you promised to them or that you intend for them to have. But a common… Read More »
Giving Someone Else Decision-Making Power Over Your Future
Failing to plan is planning to fail, the old adage says, and unfortunately far too many people learn about the failures of their estate planning when it’s too late. By choosing not to make a decision you are essentially outsourcing the decision making process to others, particularly the government. If you don’t make decisions about… Read More »
Which Assets Are Not Subject to Intestate Succession?
Some assets do not pass through a will. This is because every state has intestate succession laws which allow property to be passed on to surviving family members in priority order even when no will exists. Typically only blood relatives and spouses are eligible to inherit under intestate succession laws. This means that charities, friends… Read More »
Which Assets Are Not Subject to Intestate Succession?
Some assets do not pass through a will. This is because every state has intestate succession laws which allow property to be passed on to surviving family members in priority order even when no will exists. Typically only blood relatives and spouses are eligible to inherit under intestate succession laws. This means that charities, friends… Read More »
What Three Factors Make the Elderly Most Exposed to Financial Exploitation?
Unfortunately, far too many elderly people are exposed to financial exploitation every year. This problem is likely to get worse, which is why the government and family members are increasingly concerned about the possibility of exploitation. There are three primary sets of factors that work that make elderly more likely to be associated with financial… Read More »
Medicare, MassHealth, And Planning For Long-Term Care
Many people are confused about the difference between Medicare and MassHealth as it pertains to the challenge of paying for expensive long-term care. This is not surprising. The two programs sound similar and both provide for medical care. Let’s start with a brief definition of each program. Medicare is an entitlement program. Everyone who reaches… Read More »
Life is Too Short
According to recent data from the Women’s Institute for Secure Data one third of the women who lose a spouse are under the age of 65. And yes, for over 100 years women have enjoyed longer life spans then men. Although, according to a Los Angeles Times story this has not always been the case…. Read More »