Where Can I Get a Power of Attorney Form?

Power of attorney refers to a legal document that allows someone to act for you – whether out of convenience or out of necessity. For example, if you have to be out of town and are not available to sign official documents, having a power of attorney in place can be...

What Is a Trust?

A trust can be a powerful tool in your estate planning efforts. Your estate plan is a clear symbol of the time and care you have poured into protecting your financial legacy and passing it to those you love – in accordance with your wishes. When you understand what...

Printable Last Will and Testament Templates

Your last will and testament is a legal document that helps support your financial legacy, which makes it important to your peace of mind and to the future of your loved ones. Creating a will requires care and focus, but you can get the job done without the need for...

Basic Estate Planning Documents Checklist: 4 Documents You Need

Estate planning is an essential mechanism for ensuring that your financial legacy is distributed according to your wishes, which allows you to continue supporting the ones you love and to address additional concerns, such as guardianship of any minor children. While...

Who Can Override a Power of Attorney?

Life can be unpredictable, and our decisions aren't always clear-cut. To be prepared for changing circumstances, it is essential to have certain legal safeguards in place. While wills and trusts typically focus on what happens after death, other mechanisms deal with...

The 4 Types of Powers of Attorney in California

Individuals who want to preserve their assets for their relatives after their passing can set up trusts or wills as part of their estate plan. However, not all aspects of estate planning deal with what happens after death. If someone wants greater control over their...

Texas Medical Power of Attorney Requirements

Preparing for potential medical emergencies is important in creating a comprehensive estate plan. If you become incapacitated due to an illness or injury, you may need to establish legal arrangements to respect your healthcare wishes. One essential tool that Texans...

Should You Set Up a Revocable Living Trust?

Estate planning can be time-consuming and complex, but it is often well worth the effort. Developing a solid estate plan is crucial to protect yourself if you become incapacitated and your family after you pass away. While a will is the most common estate planning...

How to Write a Codicil to a Will

For those who want assurance that their assets will properly be distributed after they pass away, a last will is a common choice. With a will, an individual can specify the allocation of assets, beneficiaries, executors, guardianship for minors, and several other...

How to Fill Out a Self-Proving Affidavit

When it comes to estate planning, creating a last will and testament is one of the most important steps an individual can take to protect their loved ones after their death. While valid wills are legally binding documents, there are ways to further solidify them. One...
What Is Probate? 

What Is Probate? 

If you are confused about exactly what probate is, you are not alone. Probate, in a nutshell, is the legal process that occurs when a person dies and their will is validated and administered. When the person in question, however, has no will, they are said to have...

What Is a Living Will?

What Is a Living Will?

A living will serve a different purpose than a last will and testament. While your will clarifies how you would like your assets to be distributed upon your death, a living will outlines your medical preferences in the event you become incapacitated. Many people put...

Can I Do My Own Living Trust in California?

Can I Do My Own Living Trust in California?

A living trust is a legal document that creates a trust while you are alive, and the beneficiaries you assign to the living trust receive the assets you assign to them upon your death. In other words, a living trust is a lot like a will in the sense that it outlines...

Power of Attorney: A Complete Guide

Power of Attorney: A Complete Guide

Many people are under the impression that estate planning is something only the wealthy can afford – yet they remain interested in preserving their legacy, continuing to support their loved ones, and passing on their assets according to their wishes when the time...

How to Execute a Last Will and Testament

How to Execute a Last Will and Testament

Your last will and testament is an important part of your estate plan, which represents your legacy and is a symbol of your continued commitment to your loved ones. Estate plans are not just for the wealthy and their tony estates. Estate, in this context, simply means...