Paying for Your Grandchildren’s Education
By Roy Schneider, Esq.
The bond between a grandparent and grandchild is a very special one based on respect, trust and unbounding love. When preparing one’s estate plan, it’s not at all uncommon to find grandparents who want to leave much or all of their fortune to their grandchildren. With...
What Does the Term “Funding the Trust” Mean in Estate Planning?
by Roy Schneider, Esq.
I am about to start the estate planning process and have heard the term "funding the trust" thrown around a great deal. What does this mean? And what will happen if I fail to fund the trust?
The phrase, or term, "funding the trust"...
Overview of the Ways to Hold Title to Property
By Roy Schneider, Esq.
You are purchasing a home, and the escrow officer asks, "How do you want to hold title to the property?" In the context of your overall home purchase, this may seem like a small, inconsequential detail; however nothing could be further from the truth....
Pet Trusts – Estate Planning and Your Pets
By Roy Schneider, Esq.
If your household includes animal companions, be they dogs, cats, horses, rabbits or mice, you may want to include a pet trust in your estate plan. A pet trust is a legally enforceable document whose purpose is to insure that your pet receives the sort of...
Avoid Family Feuds through Proper Estate Planning
By Roy Schneider, Esq.
A family feud over an inheritance is not a game and there is no prize package at the end of the show. Rather, disputes over who gets your property after your death can drag on for years, ruin family relationships, and deplete your entire estate....
Remarried? Protect Your Children with Proper Planning
By Roy Schneider, Esq.
If you are married for the first time and are working on your estate plan, the decisions about where the assets go are usually easy. Most parents in that situation want their entire estate to go to the surviving spouse, and upon the death of...
7 Events Which May Require a Change in Your Estate Plan
Preparing to Meet With Our Estate Planning Attorney
By Roy Schneider, Esq.
A thorough and complete estate plan must take into account a significant amount of information about your assets, your family, your property, and your wishes during and after your life. When you make your first appointment with our estate planning attorney, we will send...
Family Business: Preserving Your Legacy for Generations to Come
Retirement Accounts and Estate Planning
By Roy Schneider, Esq.
For many Americans, retirement accounts comprise a substantial portion of their wealth. When planning your estate, it is important to consider the ramifications of tax-deferred retirement accounts, such as 401(k) and 403(b) accounts and traditional IRAs. (Roth IRAs are not tax-deferred accounts and are...