Another important reason to consider including a funeral plan in your comprehensive estate plan is that funerals are expensive. The average, “no-frills” funeral service runs about $6,000. Upgrades and extras can easily push the tab to over $10,000 – and that is not including the burial plot or cremation services. The death of a loved one, even when expected, is a deeply emotional time when people typically don’t think clearly. Topics covered in this report include: I’ve Discussed What I Want … [Read more...]
Free Report: South Carolina Pet Planning: How You Can Protect Your Pet in Your Estate Plan
If you are an animal lover you likely include at least one pet as part of your family. You likely go out of your way to ensure that your family pet eats well, is seen by the veterinarian on a regular basis, and generally feels like part of the family. One thing you may have overlooked, however, is including your family pet in your estate plan. Don’t feel bad, you are not alone. Most people don’t think to include Fido or Fluffy in their estate plan – but they should. Topics covered … [Read more...]
Free Report: South Carolina Trust Agreements: Why You Should Consider One of Your Estate Plan
Once upon a time trusts were used almost exclusively by wealthy families as a way to guard and control the family wealth and ultimately pass is down to future generations. Today, thanks to the evolution of trust agreements over the past century, trusts offer a wide range of benefits to the average person as part of his or her estate plan. Topics covered in this report include: What Is a Trust Agreement? Trust Basics – The Elements Revocable vs. Irrevocable – Testamentary vs. … [Read more...]
Choosing Your South Carolina Executor
Choosing Your South Carolina Executor from John Kuhn Among the many decisions you must make when creating your Will is who to appoint as the Executor Don’t make the mistake of making that decision without giving it considerable thought first. Learn more about choosing your South Carolina executor in this presentation. … [Read more...]
Free Report: South Carolina Duties and Responsibilities Of An Executor
The terms “Executor” and “Personal Representative” are often used interchangeably. Essentially they serve the same function. The difference is how they are appointed. An Executor is appointed in a Last Will and Testament whereas a Personal Representative is appointed by the court when a decedent died intestate, or without leaving behind a Will. Topics covered in this report include: Your Last Will and Testament – The Basics The Probate Process – An Overview Executor or Personal … [Read more...]
What Is Probate?
When a person dies, the individual leaves behind an estate. The estate is comprised of everything in which the decedent had an ownership interest in at the time of the death of the decedent. Some estates are very large, being comprised of complicated and complex assets while other estate are modest and may only include a small amount of personal property. Regardless of the size or value, however, almost everyone leaves behind some type of estate when they die. Probate is the legal process that … [Read more...]
Funeral Planning in South Carolina: Why It Should be Part of Your Comprehensive Estate Plan
Funeral Planning in South Carolina: Why It Should be Part of Your Comprehensive Estate Plan from John Kuhn People often overpay for funeral and burial services when they are forced to make decisions while grieving. Learn more about Funeral Planning in South Carolina in this presentation. … [Read more...]
Can My Estate Avoid Probate?
A well-drafted estate plan should accomplish far more than simple designing a roadmap to be followed in the event of your death. Most estate plans, in fact, attempt to achieve several goals and objectives within the plan. One of those is probate avoidance. Once you have a better understanding of what the probate process entails you will likely understand why you may wish to have your estate avoid probate as well. Probate is the legal process that follows the death of an individual. Probate has … [Read more...]
What Is a Contested Divorce?
If you and your spouse have reached the conclusion that you marriage is no longer working, it may be time to consider divorce. Although going through a divorce is never easy, for anyone involved, it can be accomplished in an amicable manner if both parties agree to an uncontested divorce that resolves all relevant issues without the need for protracted litigation. On the other hand, when one, or both, of the parties becomes adversarial, the divorce will quickly turn into a contested divorce. In … [Read more...]
What Are the Drawbacks of Probate?
You may have heard that one of the biggest advantages to having a comprehensive estate plan in place is that it can dramatically decrease your estate’s exposure to probate, if not avoid probate altogether. Of course, for that to be an incentive to create your estate plan, however, you need to know the drawbacks of probate first. Probate is the legal process that is required of most estates following the death of an individual. When you die, you will leave behind and estate. Your estate may be … [Read more...]
