As people plan for retirement, they usually consider not only their own comfort and financial security in their golden years, but also how to provide for their loved ones. Anyone who is involved in estate planning is aware not only of the huge tax changes in the Tax...
Chesterfield Estate Planning Blog
Understanding a power of attorney for healthcare
A power of attorney for healthcare can be a useful tool to consider using along with an estate plan. In Missouri, a power of attorney for healthcare allows an agent to make health care decisions for the principal. The principal is the person who creates the power of...
How should I select an executor for my estate?
Selecting an executor for your estate is an important part of the estate planning process. For that reason, estate planners should know how to select the best executor for their estate and a few factors to consider can help them be in a better position to do that. The...
What kind of trusts are available and what are the benefits?
When Missouri residents are considering their estate planning options, they are prone to focusing on the simplest method to pass their property onto loved ones: a will. However, there are other ways to protect assets and pass property to heirs. These can be as or more...
What limitations can you set in a trust?
If you have established a trust, you will want to make sure it works in the manner you intend it to. Simply funding it will not accomplish this goal. Rather, you must include certain limitations in your trust’s provisions. By doing so, you will improve the odds that...
A well-planned estate can minimize the probate process
Probate, the courts’ method of addressing a deceased person’s, or “decedent”, estate, can take many paths. The process can be short and simple, or it can be lengthy. Where a particular decedent’s estate falls on the spectrum rests on the size of the estate, whether a...
Role of the personal representatives in administering a will
Planning for one’s passing may not always be something that people in Missouri like to think about, but it is still important to plan for it. People do not know when they will pass away either, so it is important for people of all ages to plan for it as well. One way...
Do I need a will?
Estate planning is something that does not always get the attention it deserves. It is easy to take for granted our safety, which is why many of us do not develop a thorough estate plan. If you do not have an estate plan, do you need one? Despite the benefits of a...
How important is a financial power of attorney?
Many couples get advice on the importance of advanced directives such as a living will or a durable power of attorney to accompany their will or trust. But as part of the estate planning process, it is also important to consider naming a financial POA while assessing...
How to establish and use a special needs trust
Trusts are among the most frequently used estate planning techniques for residents of St. Louis and the rest of Missouri. These trusts, however, come in many different colors and sizes. What may be the perfect trust for a well-off family of four may be totally unfit...