For people owning significant real estate in Missouri, estate planning can be even more complicated than usual. After all, real estate is frequently one of the more substantial assets anyone owns, and its sale or divestment can be slow and complex, with hidden issues...
Estate Planning
Don’t overlook these estate planning essentials
Missouri residents often overlook estate planning, with many thinking they only need to do something once they reach senior citizen status. Others start the process earlier but believe they cannot change it once they establish a plan. Both scenarios are wrong....
An overview of the spendthrift trust
A spendthrift trust may be an ideal way to protect a beneficiary from squandering or losing an inheritance. The trust itself allows you as the grantor to determine when and how money, a Missouri home or other assets can be distributed or accessed. In addition to...
Situations when leaving unequal inheritances makes sense
Children typically expect that their parents will leave them equal shares of their estate. Although many people take this route, high net worth families in Missouri may have good cause to grant unequal inheritances to children or other heirs. Multiple scenarios...
Estate planning when you aren’t married
Items such as a home, a car or a bank account may be subject to probate if they are left in your estate when you die. In the event that you are married, your assets would likely transfer to your spouse either automatically or at the conclusion of a probate proceeding....
Planning your own Missouri funeral
Estate planning in Missouri can include more than just organizing your property and belongings. You can also plan your own funeral when making estate planning decisions. You lay out your wishes regarding your funeral and burial, and your family has one less worry....
How much will a living trust cost?
Creating a living trust in Missouri will involve a certain amount of costs. These can consist of administrative fees, legal fees, and charges from a notary public. However, this is an investment that you are well advised to make. The long-term benefits that you and...
What does an executor do in Missouri
Many Missouri residents are very hands-on when it comes to creating their estate plans. Unfortunately, there’s no way for those residents to be as hands-on when it comes to carrying out those plans. That’s why they appoint someone to be the executor of their estate....
Determining if an estate planning attorney’s fees are reasonable
Many Missouri residents work with an estate planning attorney to ensure their affairs are in order. However, one common concern is whether the fees charged by estate planning attorneys are reasonable. Understand the type of fee arrangement There are different types of...
Helping your loved one execute a power of attorney
As our family members and loved ones age in Missouri, planning for their future care and well-being becomes a top priority. One of the essential tools for this purpose is a power of attorney (POA). The POA is a legal document that a person uses to choose someone they...