The American family has changed quite a bit over the last few decades, and assumptions that a couple will share bank accounts, tax obligations or even last names can be thrown out the
If a loved one has recently died or become mentally incapacitated, finding the person’s estate planning documents is essential. The estate planning process and associated documents are critical to making decisions on the
When a family member or other loved one dies, grief and shock can sometimes be overwhelming. The last thing most people want to think about is making phone calls or funeral arrangements. Some
With our society becoming increasingly mobile and international travel becoming more affordable than ever before, families and family-like relationships have steadily grown far more diverse in terms of citizenship. It is no longer
While we all want to provide financial help to our loved ones—whether they are family or close friends—it is important to understand that how the money is classified will directly affect your estate
Upon seeing the words medallion signature guarantee (MSG), you may envision some shiny grand medallion, signifying a level of greatness few attain. However, that is far from what this guarantee means. An MSG
For decades, common financial planning wisdom has encouraged almost all American workers to maximize their contributions to qualified retirement accounts. There is no question that doing so can be a powerful way to
The death of a loved one is one of the most difficult times in a person’s life. Nothing can truly prepare you for such a loss. However, dealing with the financial stress of
After a loved one dies, their money and property must be distributed to the right people, either according to their will or the state’s default distribution scheme. Even if you are staying on
The bad news: When a deceased person’s estate (which is simply a term referring to all of their money and property) has to go through probate (the court-supervised process of distributing a deceased
