Estate Planning

The 'affordability crisis' is fueling a surge in financial elder abuse, including 'inheritance impatience' and 'inheritance preservation' schemes. Pushed to their financial limits, adult children are asking parents to hand over their wealth early, or to stop spending it.

As the median cost of a funeral in the United States, including viewing and burial, reaches more than $8,000, new findings reveal that one in three Americans are taking on debt to cover a loved one's funeral expenses.

Trusts are a common tool for bypassing probate, but states offer other options as well. These vary widely, underscoring the importance of understanding local laws if probate avoidance is a priority.

Learn whether it is practical to pay off debt before creating a will or trust. Understand how debt affects inheritance, probate, and your family’s financial security.

Thinking about the end of our lives can be so unappealing that many of us put it off. However, people are beginning to discuss the subject more readily, and some television shows may be helping to lead the way.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has released the gift tax and estate tax exclusions going into effect January 1, 2026. The federal estate tax exemption will increase to $15 million per individual; the annual gift tax exemption will remain at...

A recent survey shows that fewer younger adults said they expect to receive an inheritance, despite the fact that older adults report that they are likely to leave one. These and other findings point to an interesting gap between older adults’...

Every few weeks, Dr. Lea Schweitz brings together a group via Zoom for an online "playdate." This warm and engaging community gathering, typically a mix of first-timers and regulars, is rather unusual in its focus: planning for the end of one’s...

Trust funding is the process of transferring the ownership of your accounts and property to your trust during your lifetime.