The Australian Family Trust Explained

In Australia, a Family Trust (often called a discretionary trust) is set up to hold a family's assets or to conduct a family business. Generally, they are established for asset protection or tax purposes. Christopher Balmford from Cleardocs gives us an overview of how a family trust works and how to set one up.

Ira Trusts: What's All The Hype About

A recent new development in estate planning is helping thousands of affluent people across the country with IRAs over 100,000 transcend estate tax and income tax. It keeps your beneficiaries from blowing all of the money you’ve worked so hard for.

Why Estate Planning Is a Woman's Issue

In a nation consumed with wealth-building, it's easy to forget that earning money is only half the financial security battle. Equally important is protecting our hard-won financial security with a well-designed estate plan. For women, the importance of planning is paramount, because most often women must cope when loved ones become disabled or die.

How Can An Estate Plan Help Me?

Do you know how your life will be divided after your death? Who will your estate go to? Who will look after your children? With an estate plan you decide. You are in control of your family’s security in the event that something tragic should happen.

Write Before You Cannot Speak!

Design appears everywhere. From spider web to bridge spans, structure supports purpose. Trees have it, bees live it, and the earth orbits around it. Designs in nature inspire some while others procra...

Planning for the Intangibles

Over views questions surrounding intangible digital assets as a relative consideration to ones estate planning needs.

Estate Planning

Estate planning involves distributing your assets after death to such people or causes according to your wish with minimum legal complications and the least tax incidence. And estate planning is not just for the wealthy; nor is it something to be contemplated when you reach the ripe old age of eighty.

Estate Planning - Considering a Second Marriage Late in Life

Over views estate considerations that should be accommodated as widows and widowers (with their longer life spans) increasingly meet and decide upon a second marriage. Addresses for consideration a set of unique legal questions that those getting remarried, do not often think through.

Estate Planning - Real Property Disbursement Problems

Over views some problems created by evenly splitting an intrest in real property between your heirs.

Is Your Special Needs Child Included in Your Estate Plan?

You have undoubtedly made provisions for how your beneficiaries or guardians will handle your finances in the event of your death or disability. You’ve appointed a guardian for your young children and you’ve outlined instructions for how to handle your child’s education, finances and other expenses. Sure, you have a plan in place to provide for your child – but have you thought about special provisions for your Special Needs Child?

Private Trust Companies

Private Trust Companies have gained in popularity in recent years. They provide a means by which a settlor can retain a greater degree of control over his trust affairs, without compromising the validity of the trust structure. A Private Trust Company offers both convenience and flexibility and enhanced protection for fiduciaries.

Estate Planning and Your Pets

You have diligently outlined what should become of your children in the event of your death or disability. You’ve planned your estate, appointed guardians and possibly even shared your estate plan with family members and trusted caretakers. But doesn’t something feel as if it’s missing? Perhaps you need to plan provisions for what should become of your pets once you are no longer able to care for them.

Estate Planning – The Most Common Mistakes

Compiled is a list of some of the most common mistakes individuals make in estate planning. Please review the list, but also plan to meet with a qualified attorney to review your unique estate.

The Contingency Lawyer Wants Your Assets!

On why asset protection is vital to protect your assets from opportunists aided by contingency lawyers.

The Basics Of Estate Planning

Estate Planning may be a word that is encountered by many citizens especially the elderly. What is Estate Planning? What benefits does it provide to people? Estate Planning is a method of arranging and considering alternatives that will satisfy specific wishes and goals to prepare for things that may happen to a person and the people he finds special to him.