Your Estate Matters… Utah’s Default Estate Plan For Second Marriage Couples

Issue 11.12

You should know that the State of Utah has a default estate plan for you in the event you die without your own estate plan in place.  The plan is part of the Utah Probate Code for people who die without a will.  One of those default estate plans applies to [...]

Your Estate Matters… New Year’s Resolution #1:Do Estate Plan

Issue 2.12

Your New Year’s resolutions may include eating healthily,exercising,increasing your income,or learning a new skill.  Your number one resolution should be to make your estate plan.  There are very few things that are as simple to do,yet carry so many benefits for your loved ones and family.

Your [...]

Your Estate Matters… Wills Must Be Probated

Issue 46.11

On occasion I meet with clients who think that only the estates of people who die without a will have to be probated.  That mistake is based in large part due to the formalities of signing a will.  The fact that wills are witnessed and notarized makes some believe it should [...]

Your Estate Matters… Dividing Personal Property

Issue 41.11

Most of the time,families work through the process of dividing personal property fairly well following the death of a loved one.  There may be emotional or tense moments in that process,but usually families find it a positive experience.  Other times serious problems occur and the process spins out of [...]

Your Money Matters… Who Should Be Your Executor Or Trustee?

Issue 35.11

Upon your death someone has to be responsible to collect and safeguard your assets,prepare an inventory,pay bills and final taxes,represent the estate against claims,and distribute your estate to your heirs.  It is a lot of work,and sometimes very complicated.  Handling an estate is a balance of [...]

Your Estate Matters… Your IRA Estate Plan

Issue 27.11

Planning for the treatment of your IRA at your death should include more than filling out the beneficiary form.  You should consider ways to leverage your IRA account to even greater wealth by the way you [...]

Your Estate Matters… How A Trust Works

Issue 22.11

It’s a surprise to many to know that they have created many trusts during their lifetime;for,example,if you were to tell your oldest child to take your car and pick up your youngest child from school;you would [...]

Your Estate Matters… Updating Your Trust

Issue 18.11

Trusts are generally easier to change than wills.  Trusts have fewer requirements than wills when a change needs to be made.  A person can change their trust by using an “Amendment.”  An amendment usually must be in writing,signed,dated,[...]

Your Estate Matters… Your Family Needs Your Will

Issue 14.11

A current will can give your family and other beneficiaries more than just direction as to where your assets should go.  Some other benefits of having a current will are the following:

Your Estate Matters…Who Should Have A Trust?

Issue 35.10

There are many reasons you should have a Trust.  One reason is to avoid probate.  Probate is the court procedure to appoint a personal representative,determine who gets your property,and oversee its distribution.  This can be a slow and [...]