When it comes to making a will, most people have a sense of how they want to divide their major financial assets among their heirs. But people often don’t put much thought into how to divide their personal property – particularly property that isn’t worth much economically but is rich in sentimental value, such as a wedding dress, a war medal, or a photo album.

If you’re thinking of signing a prenuptial agreement – or if you know someone who is – it’s a good idea to have an estate planner review the document. Most people think of prenuptial agreements as spelling out what will happen if a couple get divorced. But in fact, most prenuptial agreements also state what will happen if one spouse dies while the couple is still married. In actual practice, prenuptial agreements come into play as much as

People often move to another state after they retire. In the past, this was usually to take advantage of a better climate or to be closer to friends and family. But these days, moving is often a good form of estate planning. One reason is state estate taxes. These used to be tied closely into the federal estate tax system and largely a non-issue. But for several years now state estate taxes have been “uncoupled” from

Almost three million children in the U.S. between the ages of 5 and 15 have special needs, according to the latest Census figures.  Parents of these children need to use extra care in planning their estates. For most people, estate planning is about making sure your assets go where you want them to, and minimizing inconvenience and taxes along the way.  But parents of special needs children face an additional challenge because they have to make