William is a personal finance journalist and writes on matters affecting people and their finances.
28 August 2025For decades, married couples used AB trusts—also called credit shelter or bypass trusts—to make sure each spouse’s federal estate tax exemption was fully used....
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29 July 2025An estate plan is not a time capsule. People marry and divorce, move states, switch banks, change beneficiaries, start businesses, and welcome grandchildren. An...
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22 July 2025Couples often ask whether to create one joint revocable living trust or two individual trusts. There isn’t a one‑size rule; the right answer depends...
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6 July 2025Not every estate needs the full machinery of probate. Many states allow small‑estate affidavits or summary probate procedures that move modest assets quickly without...
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28 March 2025If a revocable living trust is the engine of a modern estate plan, the pour‑over will is the safety belt. One moves assets privately...
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12 March 2025It’s common advice: “Put the house in joint tenancy and you’ll avoid probate.” That’s true once. The survivor receives full title by right of...
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14 February 2024Estate planning is not only paper; it is people. The best documents fail if the wrong person sits in the decision‑making chair. This article...
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14 June 2020A Power of Attorney is a legal document by which you can appoint and authorize another person (usually a trusted friend, family member, colleague...
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9 June 2020In order to best explain claims of undue influence, it’s often helpful to set the scene a little. That can help with grasping the...
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