An auction is an event where property or goods are sold to a group of competitive bidders. As auctions are open to the public, there is often a wide range of bids, with bidders competing to win the items of his or her choosing. Consequently, items sold at auction...
In its essence, an estate sale is large garage sale, one in which the majority of one’s assets are sold at the same time. Most estate sales happen after an individual has passed away. However, they are also useful when an individual is downsizing. Keys to...
Losing a loved one is always incredibly difficult, and the grieving process is long and complicated. However, one bright spot can be receiving an inheritance. It is important to remember, though, that there are possible tax implications related to an inheritance. ...
Losing a loved one is a deeply painful process. While the grief is fresh, many parts of everyday life are put on the back burner. Unfortunately, after a loved one passes away it eventually becomes clear that there a myriad of details, both large and small, that must...
The probate court is the institution that issues letters of testamentary. A letter of testamentary is a legal document giving an individual the power to act as the executor for an estate. As the executor, you need to present this letter of testamentary and a copy of...
Experiencing the grief of losing a loved one is all consuming and emotionally, mentally, and physically exhausting. It also requires a large amount task work, both large and small, that must be handled in some manner. One item that must be addressed is how to cancel...
We live in a world of social networking. As the platforms continue to grow in size and numbers, so do the number of users. This gives rise to the issue of what do with the social media accounts belonging to an individual who has passed away. Each social networking...
A fiduciary is an individual that acts on the behalf of another individual to manage his or her assets. Being a fiduciary means being ethically bound to act in the best interests of the other individual. A fiduciary is an individual who is obligated legally to act in...
Mediation is an interactive, structured process in which a neutral third party helps two or more parties resolve any conflict using specialized negotiation and communication techniques. All individuals or groups involved in the mediation process are encouraged to...
What is a Notary Public? A notary public (or notary for short) is a public official who certifies the legitimacy of signatures on important documents. The notary must verify the identity of the individual who is signing the document. The notary must also verify that...
In years gone by, people typically bought a car and drove that car until it died a natural or unnatural death. They then started the process all over again by purchasing another new or used car. This is often no longer the case as we live in a society where everyone...
As we live in a world of technology, it would seem safe to assume that banks would know when someone dies. However, this is not the case and credit cards are not automatically canceled when the credit card holder passes away. If you are not careful, this can lead to...
According to the Internal Revenue Code, when a beneficiary receives an asset from a benefactor after the individual passes away, that asset typically receives a stepped-up basis. This is the market value of the asset at the time the benefactor passes away. The...
No one wants to think about his or her own mortality, and no one especially wants to think about someone else raising his or her children. However, once you have children, the right thing to do is sit down and decide whom you want to raise your child or children if...
Intestacy is defined as the state of dying without having a will. The estate of any individual who dies intestate (i.e. dies without leaving a will behind) must go through the probate court. The intestacy laws of the state will then determine who will be the...
While this is probably not at the top of your list of questions after losing a loved one, it often comes up. This topic becomes extremely relevant when a loved one was a frequent traveller and gathered many miles or points over the years. The points can be worth a...
If you have a have a trust, do you also need a will? Even if you transfer the majority of your property through a living trust or other estate planning tool, you should also have a will. Without a will, any property that isn’t passed along to beneficiaries by those...
Everyone over the age of 18 (or 21 depending on where you live) should have a will. Why? A will is the most important estate planning document there is, and, yes, everyone has an estate! What is a Will? A will tells others where you want your property to go after...
With the right information, it is possible to find the bank accounts belonging to the deceased. However, sometimes finding the right information can be difficult, especially if the deceased did not keep records or kept records that are extremely disorderly. Identify...
Typically, only large estates have to pay out taxes, it is likely that you, as a beneficiary, will not have to pay out any taxes. Inheritance Tax An inheritance tax is a tax the beneficiary must pay upon receiving an inheritance. Inheritance Tax – Federal Level...
An estate is never really closed, but rather closing out an estate refers to the final distribution of the estate’s assets. At this point, the executor has no more duties to fulfill. However, if at some point in the future a previously unknown asset becomes...
The concept of a legacy letter has existed for over 3,500 years. It is a letter or document, lovingly written to record your own personal stories as well as family stories to pass on to others. These stories create a platform on which to explain your values and life...
At some point, you have more than likely heard the terms will and trust, especially if you are looking at doing some estate planning. Often, they seemed to be used interchangeably. However, they do not refer to the same thing at all. Here are some key points to help...
An ethical will is a document that allows you to pass on your personal values, life experiences, and life lessons to your family. Creating an ethical will is completely voluntary. It is an individual choice for each person to decide whether this is a document that...
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