- What Is a Business Trust and How Does It Work? – Definition
When it comes to trusts, most people are familiar with individual trusts, trust funds or family trusts that are connected to an individual or family. But another type of trust exists for entrepreneurs and companies called business trusts, which are… read more…
- Trust vs. LLC: What’s the Difference?
Trusts and limited liability companies (LLCs) are both legal vehicles that can be used to protect assets. Both are also created at the state level but they have different features and different uses. Trusts are primarily used to avoid taxation… read more…
- Where Can I Get a Power of Attorney Form?
When you assign someone power of attorney you give them the authority to make decisions for you and on your behalf. Whatever the agent, as this person is called, decides will be as binding as if you’d made the decision yourself, so only give power of attorney to someone you absolutely trust. While a specific form… read more…
- Healthcare Proxy vs. Living Will: What’s the Difference?
Failing health often robs people of their agency. Whether due to age or illness, many hospital patients can’t effectively communicate their own wishes. For legal matters, this is handled through matters such as medical power of attorney, trusts and estates. This… read more…
- Irrevocable Trust vs. Will: What’s the Difference?
Two of the possible ways for people making arrangements for the disposition of their assets after their death are wills and irrevocable trusts. Each one has unique strengths. Here’s how the two compare and contrast so you can determine if… read more…
- Revocable Trust vs. Will: What’s the Difference?
Estate planning is an important step in taking care of what matters most, your loved ones and the life you’ve worked hard for. Two of the options are a revocable trust and a will. But which one is the best… read more…
- In Trust For vs. Payable On Death: What’s the Difference?
When shaping an estate plan, one of the most important steps is deciding who has access to your assets. Specifically, that means who inherits bank accounts and other financial accounts when you pass away. In trust for vs. payable on… read more…
- Contesting Life Insurance Beneficiary – A Guide
Life insurance beneficiary designations allow the policyholder to decide who should receive a death benefit when he or she passes away. That doesn’t prevent someone from contesting life insurance beneficiary payouts, however. There are different reasons why someone may choose to dispute the beneficiary of a life insurance policy. If you believe you have a… read more…
- Pros and Cons: Payable on Death (POD) Accounts
Payable on death accounts can help streamline the process of transferring certain assets to loved ones after you pass away. Also referred to as a POD account or Totten trust, a payable-on-death account can be established at a bank or… read more…
- Qualified Domestic Trust (QDOT): Marital Deduction
Trusts can be a useful tool for estate planning if you’d like to preserve assets for loved ones while minimizing estate taxes. A qualified domestic trust (QDOT) is a specific type of trust that can offer tax benefits for married… read more…
- Living Will vs. DNR: Key Differences and When to Use Each
When planning for the future, it’s common to think of what you’ll do with your estate and assets. However, there is more to consider than just your financial situation. You have to take into account your health and well-being, too.… read more…
- How Does an Estate Tax Marital Deduction Work?
Estate planning as an individual is complicated enough, but planning for it in a marriage can create greater difficulties. Working as a unified partnership for your joint estate’s future means that you both will have priorities you want to bring into… read more…
- Key Differences: Living Will vs. Last Will
Planning for the later years of your life is often an emotionally taxing experience. However, it’s often scarier to go into the end of our life without a plan. Of course, a plan requires the right legal documents. A living… read more…
- Key Differences: Living Will vs. Power of Attorney
Hard choices wait around every corner as you age, but some of the most difficult ones are about your own care. Without a plan in place, you might not be able to convey your wishes to those around you, leaving… read more…
- TotalLegal Review: Pros & Cons
TotalLegal is a company that offers consumers the opportunity to create quality legal documents for a variety of needs. For estate planning, the website allows users to create a last will and testament, power of attorney, living will and medical power of attorney. If you’re looking to begin the process of creating an estate plan… read more…
- FreeWill Review: What You Need to Know
FreeWill is an online estate planning tool that allows you to create or update a legally binding will. It offers products such as the ability to document funeral wishes, create a durable financial power of attorney, advance healthcare directives (living… read more…
- How to Make a Will for Free
Estate planning can be an overwhelming process, emotionally and mentally. The prices to work with a financial professional certainly don’t help either. These days, it’s possible to find free templates and do-it-yourself kits online that make estate planning more affordable.… read more…
- Breakdown of Estate Planning Costs
Estate planning costs vary, and the difference in fees can only add to the emotional challenges. It’s difficult enough to begin managing matters of death without confusion on top of that. These issues only create more stress when there is confusion… read more…
- Guide to the Washington, D.C. Estate Tax
Washington, D.C. does levy an estate tax on the estates of certain people after they have died. Specifically, the D.C. estate tax applies to any estate worth more than $4,254,800 in 2022. This is up from past years. The rate… read more…
- DoYourOwnWill.com Review: Pros & Cons
Online will-writing and estate planning platform DoYourOwnWill.com boasts features that cover a wide variety of will-related situations. Surprisingly, you won’t have to pay anything to take advantage of what the company offers. By the same token, DoYourOwnWill is relatively basic, and those with more complex estate planning needs may want to look elsewhere. DoYourOwnWill also doesn’t… read more…
- Trust & Will Review: Pros & Cons
Trust & Will is an online estate planning platform that allows you to create documents such as wills, trusts and guardianships. Trust & Will is available entirely online, so you won’t need to download software to your computer. Trust & Will is a great estate planning tool, as it combines a wide range of services… read more…
- Rocket Lawyer Review: Pros & Cons
One of Rocket Lawyer’s key strengths is its versatility; it allows you to create a wide range of estate planning documents beyond a basic will, making it a useful tool for those looking for a more comprehensive planning solution. However, it does come with a few important considerations. The platform offers a seven-day free trial,… read more…
- Quicken WillMaker & Trust 2025 Review
Quicken is already a popular personal finance company when it comes to tracking spending or getting a mortgage. However, the brand can also help you take care of your estate planning needs. Quicken WillMaker & Trust 2023 helps you put… read more…
- Best Online Will Makers for 2025
A will is an important part of a basic estate plan and making one may be easier than you might think. Online will-maker software programs allow you to create a will on your own, often for less than what you… read more…
- How to Make a Living Will
A living will is a legal document that allows you to specify the kind of care you’d like to receive in end-of-life situations. This is different from an advance healthcare directive, though either one can be an important part of… read more…