According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, a middle class family raising a child to adulthood will spend over $233,000 on that child between the ages of 0 to 18. That doesn’t even factor in the cost of college education, which can be thousands of dollars more per year once a child reaches adulthood.
Estate planning is not a requirement. No one can force you to make your will, create a power of attorney or to own your property in a way to avoid probate. As a result, people too often let common estate planning excuses stand in their way.
You have many options to make sure your wishes are followed after you die.
Without a will, decisions made about your property and assets will be handed over to local courts, which can make an already challenging time even harder for your loved ones.
Seeking a guardianship for a loved one is a decision that shouldn’t be taken lightly. Here’s how the process works.
Broadway legend Stephen Sondheim left behind an estate estimated to be worth as much as $75 million to his husband, charities and a dozen other friends, court papers show.
Preparing for an estate sale can be a difficult and emotionally challenging task.
I’ve decided I no longer want to leave my estate to my children. They are ungrateful brats. How can I set things up to give my money to charity when I die?
However, if you are retired and no longer generating employment income, you should make sure you weigh the financial implications of any potential move.
Part of being a responsible homeowner is having a proper estate plan in place. After all, considering the home is generally the largest asset most people own, it’s prudent to ensure this asset is passed to the people you wish to leave it to.