Estate Planning

The rules regarding inheriting retirement accounts are complex. When choosing a beneficiary for a retirement plan, understanding these rules - and how they differ for 401(k)s and IRAs - is crucial.

A durable power of attorney and a health care proxy are two very important estate planning documents. Because the individuals chosen will have to coordinate your care, it is important to pick two people who will get along.

Many people experience difficulty in getting banks or other financial institutions to recognize the authority of an agent under a power of attorney. ...

Many people like the idea of leaving bequests to favorite charities in their wills. But instead of leaving money to a charity in your will, you can put that money into a charitable remainder trust and collect income while you...

LegalZoom, one of the most prominent sellers of do-it-yourself wills and other estate planning documents, is the target of a class action lawsuit . . .

Many parents and grandparents want to pass their wealth to their children while they are still alive. Gifts to children or grandchildren can be a good way to reduce a taxable estate. At the same time, you can control when the...

If you are leaving property to a grandchild, there is a tax you should know about. The generation-skipping transfer tax affects property passed to a grandchild in a will or trust.

Although a will is one of the most common estate planning tools available, many are often unsure of what it is or what it does. Learn more about why you should have one.

Although your life insurance policy may pass to your heirs income tax-free, it can affect your estate's tax liability. ...