When people think about estate planning after death, they often assume everything is handled once a will or trust is signed. In reality, that’s just the beginning.

The effectiveness of your estate plan depends on what you do before death – especially when it comes to properly setting up and funding your trust.

When it comes to securing your family’s future, few things are as important as avoiding estate planning mistakes. Unfortunately, these errors are more common than you might think, and they can have lasting consequences for your loved ones.

Whatever the time of year, it is always good for members of the military and their loved ones to create or revisit their estate plan. Military families face unique estate planning considerations that others do not, especially when a family member is deployed overseas or receives a temporary duty assignment. In addition, service members have access to special benefits and resources that can add complexity to the planning process, so seeking help if you are a military family is important. 

You and your spouse live together, work together, and likely spend a great deal of your free time together. Having a successful marriage and business takes hard work and dedication, but it can also be among the most rewarding things in life. To help keep you on the right track, here are a few tips.

Estate planning for couples in a second or subsequent marriage can be tricky, especially if their estates are disproportionate. One solution that allows the more affluent spouse to maintain control of their property and wealth and minimize potential estate taxes—while keeping their spouse happy—is the lifetime qualified terminable interest property (QTIP) trust.