(1) Should my trustee be my spouse or child? (2) Should my trustee be my attorney, accountant or other trusted adviser? (3) Should my trustee be a bank or trust company? (4) Would having more than one trustee be my best option instead?
(1) Where Does the Potential Guardian Live? (2) What Are the Potential Guardian’s Religious, Political and Moral Beliefs? (3) What Do You Know About the Potential Guardian’s Parenting Skills? (4) How Old Is the Potential Guardian? (5) What Is the Potential Guardian’s Family Situation? …
Filmmakers use creative license in a lot of situations involving wills. A dying person’s last wishes can be an exciting revelation or a shocking plot twist. But, that doesn’t mean the movies get it right from a legal perspective. There are several legal myths about wills that movies often use for dramatic effect. These can be inaccurate at best, and at worst completely fictional.
Summary: (1) You moved to another state, (2) The objects of your affection change, (3) Your assets or liabilities change, (4) Your qualified retirement plan is outdated, (5) Executors or trustees become inappropriate
Summary: (1) Name the right executor; (2) Include personal property; (3) Don’t tie up the money for too long; (4) Explain any unequal bequests …
Summary: (1) How are we going to organize and simplify my assets? (2) What sorts of accounts and trusts will we use and how will they be managed? (3) How will you work with my trusted contact, while I’m well, and after I’m sick or deceased?
Summary: (1) William Shakespeare; (2) Leona Helmsley; (3) Charles Dickens; (4) Harry Houdini; (5) Napoleon Bonaparte …
Summary: (1) A will can oversee the distribution of all my assets; (2) Once I have my assets in order, I’m set; (3) I can get around to drawing up a will better when I’m older…
Summary: (1) Update your health care docs; (2) Change your power of attorney; (3) Check if some things can’t be changed; (4) Update your will…
Summary: (1) Beneficiary blunders (2) Selling property for $1 (3) Naming specific investments in your will (4) Not thinking through a well-intended gift (5) Leaving assets directly to a minor without dealing with guardianship issues (6) Not planning for the death of a beneficiary (7) Ownership mistakes and imbalances (8) Not having a residuary clause (9) Not planning for the unexpected (10) Not dealing with your own mortality
