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What Are Fiduciary Duties?
If you have been assigned trustee of a trust administration, you now have fiduciary duties to follow. Fiduciary duties describe the duties to act in

What is a Grantor Retained Annuity Trust (GRAT)?
A grantor retained annuity trust (GRAT) is an estate planning tool used to minimize taxes on large gifts between family members. In a GRAT, an

What is a Family Limited Partnership (FLP)?
A family limited partnership (FLP) is a business partnership between family members. Each family member puts in money to run a business project. Typically, every

What is Estate Tax?
Estate tax is a tax paid on the total value of a deceased person’s estate. The assets that can make up an estate include money,

What Are the Biggest Challenges After Receiving a Sudden Windfall?
Receiving sudden wealth can come from many different sources. From winning the lottery to inheriting money from a distant relative, a sudden windfall can bring

What is a Dynasty Trust?
A dynasty trust is a type of long-term trust created to pass wealth down to multiple generations. The main advantage of a dynasty trust is

What is a Living Will?
Despite their similar names, a living will and a last will are two vastly different legal documents. A living will, also known as a healthcare

What is a Testamentary Trust?
A testamentary trust is a trust created in a last will and testament. The creator of the trust, also called the grantor, leaves instructions in

What is a QTIP Trust?
A QTIP trust, or Qualified Terminable Interest Property trust, is a type of irrevocable trust that is often recommended for blended families. A QTIP trust

What Are Digital Assets?
Digital assets are any assets that are stored digitally. They can have monetary or even sentimental value and may be stored online, on a mobile

What is an Executor?
An executor of a will or estate has been chosen to carry out the deceased individual’s final wishes. This could include donating to charity, paying

What is a Qualified Personal Residence Trust (QPRT)?
A qualified personal residence trust is an irrevocable trust that allows the creator to remove a property from their estate. This is done to reduce

How Does a Dynasty Trust Work?
If you are interested in long-term wealth planning, you may have heard of a dynasty trust. A dynasty trust is an irrevocable trust that can

What Should a Business Estate Plan Include?
If you are a business owner, creating an estate plan is essential to protect your business and your legacy. Your estate plan preserves your business

Why Every Parent Needs an Estate Plan
As parents, we devote our lives to nurturing and providing for our children, ensuring their safety, and building a secure future for them. However, amidst

The Role of Life Insurance in Estate Planning
Estate planning is a crucial aspect of ensuring the smooth transfer of assets and wealth to future generations. While many people associate estate planning with

How Estate Planning Helps Minimize Estate Taxes
Estate planning is a crucial aspect of financial management that involves making arrangements for the transfer of your assets and properties after your demise. While

The Importance of Regularly Updating Your Estate Plan
Estate planning is a crucial aspect of ensuring that your assets and final wishes are handled appropriately when you pass away. However, creating an estate

Understanding the Role of Executors in Estate
Introduction Estate planning is a crucial aspect of one’s financial well-being, ensuring that their assets are distributed according to their wishes after their passing. An

What is Probate?
Estate Planning What is Probate? Probate in California is a court supervised process that is used to wind up a person’s legal and financial affairs

What Will a Living Trust Do for You, And Why Hire a Lawyer?
One of the most common misconceptions about estate planning is that the only document you really need is a will. Actually, in order to achieve