Unlawfully taking someone else’s life is a grave offense that can result in severe legal consequences. The justice system does not take the act of killing another human being lightly, and the punishment can vary based on the circumstances surrounding the victim’s death. Negligent homicide is one such circumstance that can result in a lesser …
Over a hundred years ago, an appeals court in New York established that a person could create an account and name a beneficiary on it to receive the money held in the account upon the account holder’s death as an entirely revocable form of estate planning. This arrangement was tentatively named a Totten trust and …
It is important to consider listing a trust as an IRA beneficiary when designating someone to receive the money in your IRA account after you pass away. The typical individual retirement account (IRA) is a tax-advantaged investment account that allows you to accumulate wealth without an income tax burden, typically as a (limited) portion of …
A living will and an advance directive are legal documents allowing individuals to specify their end-of-life care preferences. However, there are some key differences between a living will vs advance directive. Continue reading for analysis. Many aspects of American law champion the rights of an individual, especially personal freedoms – such as our base liberties …
Creating a will is often the first step to a comprehensive estate plan, but it is far from the last. No matter what you plan to leave behind, someone must facilitate the process of managing your bequeathments and distributing them among your beneficiaries. That is where an executor comes into play. Continue reading for an …
If you stand to inherit, you may be thrilled about your upcoming windfall, but if you find that the circumstances don’t align with your plans or values, you may consider disclaiming an inheritance. For instance, if you have been far more fortunate than your siblings and feel that they or their children would benefit more …
Property rights must transfer to the living in the event of an owner’s death. You cannot take the ownership rights of a home into the grave with you. However, you can pre-empt the inevitable and determine who gets the home and at what point with a remainderman, which is someone who has the right to inherit …
Let’s say you’ve got your last will and testament all written out and finalized. Should anything happen to you tomorrow, you’ll be alright, right? Well, that depends. A last will and testament is only considered complete and legally binding once it meets certain requirements, such as having your signature and the signature of at least …
Homeownership is often part and parcel of the American dream, and for countless families, the house is the primary asset in the eventual inheritance. But what do you do when you inherit a house? Do you need to amend a deed? Sign or fill out a change of ownership form? Pay more taxes? Settle a …
Do you want to give your home to your children without including its value in your estate for state and federal tax purposes? Do you want to be able to gift property to your heirs while still retaining the ability to live in it and hold an ownership interest for a set amount of years? …