Trust administration can be a long-term responsibility. Transferring real property ownership to a trust is a relatively common practice. People who want to protect their houses from creditor claims or Medicaid estate recovery may transfer them to a trust. Those...
Compassionate And Competent
Danielle Klein
Discussing estate planning with your aging parents
Estate planning is an uncomfortable topic for people because of its association with dying. And it’s a difficult conversation for adult children to have with their aging parents. They worry that their parents will become offended and believe that their heirs are just...
How a professional fiduciary assists with trust administration
Trustees often accept their position out of respect for the party funding the trust. They agree to oversee assets for the protection of vulnerable people or as part of the legacy of a deceased individual. Trustees have to manage assets, communicate with beneficiaries...
Addressing income taxes during estate administration
Financial matters are often a top consideration during estate administration. Personal representatives have to communicate with creditors and fulfill financial obligations. They have to manage estate resources to optimize the inheritance received by beneficiaries....
Downsides of not having an estate plan
Did you know that having an estate plan is not the norm in the United States? You could argue that it should be, since everyone will eventually pass away. But statistics show that only around a third of Americans have actually written an estate plan. If you’re in this...
3 types of special needs trusts to secure your loved ones’ future
Families caring for loved ones with disabilities often face difficult questions about the future. One of the most important steps is planning how to protect their financial well-being without affecting their eligibility for government benefits. A special needs trust...
Are offshore asset protection trusts safe?
When life gets unpredictable, you might start thinking about ways to protect what you have worked so hard for. It is not about hiding anything, but about safeguarding your future from unexpected threats. This is where offshore asset protection trusts can play a role. ...
Can married spouses choose to have separate estate plans?
When it comes to estate planning, many people assume that married couples must create joint or mirror-image plans. After all, marriage is a legal and financial union, and it seems logical that estate plans would be handled the same way. However, the truth is that...
What happens to a decedent’s debts?
When someone passes away, it is not unusual for them to leave behind a few debts. Those debts don’t just go away because of that death. Instead, creditors will try to collect what they’re due. The way this is done depends on specific information regarding the...
4 reasons you may consider firing a trustee from your trust fund
Trustees play a vital role in managing your trust assets and fulfilling the trust's purpose according to your intentions. When trustees fail to perform their duties properly, the financial security the trust was designed to provide becomes jeopardized. Understanding...
