ESTATE PLANNING FAQS
What is Estate Planning?
Estate planning is a process involving the counsel of professional advisors who are familiar with your goals and concerns, your assets and how they are owned, and your family structure. It can involve the services of a variety of professionals, including your lawyer, accountant, financial planner, life insurance advisor, banker and broker.
Estate planning covers the transfer of property at death as well as a variety of other personal matters and may or may not involve tax planning. The core document most often associated with this process is your will.
Estate Planning Overview
An Introduction to Wills
Frequently Asked Questions about Wills
- What Happens If You Die Without A Will?
- What A Will Does
- What A Will Does Not Do
- How To Execute a Will
Types of Non-probate Property
Revocable Trusts
Power of Attorney
Questions Regarding Power-of-Attorney
State Laws Vary
Living Wills, Health Care Proxies, and Advance Health Care Directives
Questions Regarding Living Wills
- Introduction
- Living Wills
- Health Care Proxy
- Why Have Health Directives?
- Obtaining and Maintaining Living Wills and Health Care Proxies
- Organ and Tissue Donation
- Communication is the Key
The Probate Process
Planning With Retirement Benefits
- Introduction
- Income Taxation of Qualified Plans and IRAs
- Distribution of Plan Assets to the Participant
- Distribution of Plan Assets After the Participant’s Death
- Estate Tax Considerations
- Planning Considerations
Guidelines for Individual Executors and Trustees
- Introduction
- Understanding The Will
- Managing Estate Assets
- Handling Debts & Expenses
- Funding the Bequests
- Trust Administration
- Closing the Estate
- Common Questions
The Lawyer’s Role and “Do It Yourself” Estate Planning
Asset Protection Planning
Disclaimer
This page is provided by the ABA Real Property, Trust and Estate Law Section. While the information on this site is about legal issues, it is not legal advice or legal representation. Because of the rapidly changing nature of the law and our reliance upon outside sources, we make no warranty or guarantee of the accuracy or reliability of information contained herein.