Decanting: How to Fix a Trust That Is Not Getting Better with Age

Cari RinckerEstate Planning

While many wines get better with age, the same cannot be said for some irrevocable trusts.  Maybe you are the beneficiary of a trust created by your great-grandfather over 70 years ago, and that trust no longer makes sense. Or maybe you created an irrevocable trust over 20 years ago, and it no longer makes sense for your current situation. …

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Estate Administration Details that TV and Movies Get Wrong

Cari RinckerEstate Planning

While television and movies provide great entertainment, they are not always factual. Even shows based on real events are not entirely accurate. Creators of television programs and movies will often alter details of a story or situation to provide an enjoyable experience. Because of these widespread embellishments, people often develop misconceptions about many industries and professions, including attorneys and estate …

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Ask Cari: Intrafamily Loans and How They Work

Cari RinckerEstate Planning

An intrafamily loan is a financial arrangement between family members—one who is lending and another who is borrowing. An intrafamily loan may be used to help a family member who needs money for a number of reasons: buying a home funding or purchasing shares in a business adding accounts or property to investment portfolios paying down high-interest debt covering education …

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What Is the Difference Between a Probate and Trust Administration Attorney and an Estate Planning Attorney?

Cari RinckerEstate Planning

Estate planning attorneys and probate and trust administration attorneys play crucial but distinct roles in the legal processes involving legacy planning, asset distribution, and wealth preservation. Estate planning attorneys focus on creating a plan to manage a person’s money, property, and affairs upon their death or if they are unable to manage it themselves. Probate and trust administration attorneys, on …

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What Is Next for Your Estate Plan? 

Cari RinckerEstate Planning

Having an estate plan is a great way to ensure you and your loved ones are protected today and in the future. When creating an estate plan, we look at what is going on in your life at that time. But because life is full of changes, it is important to make sure your plan can change to accommodate whatever …

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Why Snow White’s Father Should Have Had an Estate Plan

Cari RinckerEstate Planning, General

Most of us know the story of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, where Snow White’s relationship with her stepmother takes center stage. After his wife’s death, the king remarries, hoping to provide a motherly figure for his daughter. Life is peaceful until the king dies, revealing the Queen’s darker nature. Threatened by Snow White’s beauty, the Queen arranges to …

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Ask Cari: How Can I Distribute My Estate?

Cari RinckerEstate Planning

Sitting down to create or update your estate plan can be overwhelming. Crucial to a successful plan is your ability to address two major questions: Who will get your stuff when you die, and how do you want those individuals or charities to receive that stuff? Ways to Give Away Your Money and Property Outright One way you can give …

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Who Should Be the Trustee of a Third-Party Special Needs Trust?

Cari RinckerEstate Planning

Family members with special needs may require assistance throughout their lives. If you want to ensure that a loved one with a disability is taken care of after you are gone, you can help manage resources for them by using a third-party special needs trust (SNT). Also known as a supplemental needs trust, a third-party SNT is funded with assets …

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Why Nonlawyers Can’t Replace Estate Planning Attorneys

Cari RinckerEstate Planning

Many people think estate planning is just about filling out forms to convey wishes about finances, health, and assets after death. While these documents may seem simple, they are crucial legal tools to manage affairs during incapacity or death. Relying on nonlawyers for estate planning or legal advice can be risky. Some professionals, though well-meaning, may cross into legal territory …

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Demystifying Probate and the Executor’s Role

Cari RinckerEstate Planning

When creating a last will and testament (commonly known as a will), one of your most important considerations is who to choose to serve as the executor (also called a personal representative) of your estate. As the name implies, the role of the executor is to execute the instructions that you provide in your will. You may give your chosen …

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Who Will Care for Your Child When You Cannot?

Cari RinckerEstate Planning

As a parent, you are responsible for the care of your minor child. In most circumstances, this means getting them up for school, making sure they are fed, and providing for other basic needs. However, what would happen if you and your child’s other parent were unable to care for them? It is important to note that if something were …

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Swedish Death Cleaning

Cari RinckerEstate Planning, General

How much stuff is too much? Most Americans would probably admit that they own too many things. From clothes to electronics to sports equipment to collectibles, the typical US house is stuffed to the brim with items of questionable utility. On occasion, we may commit to decluttering, only to get overwhelmed or distracted. Meanwhile, the stuff keeps piling up. But …

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