Estate planning is meant to cover what happens to your assets when you pass away. It’s also designed to tell others how you want your estate to be handled if you can’t care for yourself any longer. Estate plans are beneficial for plenty of reasons, but one of them is...
Year: 2020
Key questions to ask during estate planning
Estate planning is far more than just writing a will. That is a good first step, but it usually needs to go far beyond that. You really have to consider your family, your assets and your vision for the future of both. There are many useful tools that give you elements...
Your Chapter 13 bankruptcy isn’t working out: What now?
When you filed your Chapter 13 bankruptcy petition months ago, you were pretty sure that the rough financial patch you’d gone through was over. You had a steady income again and no unusual expenses, so you had confidence that reorganization of your debts would be...
Why Chapter 7 bankruptcy could quickly turn your life around
Financial problems can have the power to affect every aspect of your life. It may cause arguments between you and your partner, affect your ability to spend quality time with your children, and cause chronic stress. For many people, dealing with financial issues can...
Are Americans getting better about making estate plans?
For years now, experts have been warning that most Americans have no estate plan. This means no will, no advance medical directives, no powers of attorney and no written plan at all. They may know what they want to happen with their estate -- “Just give my money to my...
You’re young, healthy, unmarried, childless and broke: You still need an estate plan
Let’s be clear about this: Nobody really likes to contemplate their own mortality. It’s just not pleasant. It can seem a particularly gruesome focus when you’re young and healthy -- and if you. Many who are also unmarried, childless and broke may not even think they...
What’s the bankruptcy “clawback” provision?
Your debts have become overwhelming, and you’ve accepted the fact that you can’t repay them. Bankruptcy really is your best option. Some of those debts, however, weigh heavier on your mind than others. For example, maybe you borrowed money from your best friend to try...
Is a short sale the best way out of your mortgage?
Times are tough all over, and the economy is very uncertain. You might be able to find a new job somewhere else if you didn’t have a mortgage that you’re rapidly becoming unable to afford. Unfortunately, you haven’t lived in your home very long, and you didn’t have a...
What debts can’t be discharged as part of your bankruptcy?
When you have more debt than you can repay, taking steps to get your finances back under control is critical. Bankruptcy can help you by both stopping aggressive collection activity as soon as you file and by providing you with the discharge of unsecured debts if the...
The real reasons why you need a health care directive
For some individuals, a health care directive is something they only consider when they receive a serious medical diagnosis. It is common for physicians and counselors to recommend the creation of an advanced medical directive or health care directive for those...