Prenuptial agreements (also called antenuptial agreements or “prenups”) don’t sound very romantic. But they can make a lot of sense to have, especially for people who may have been married before. What is a Prenup? Prenuptial agreements are contracts made between two people before they get married (pre (before)-the-nuptials). These are private contracts made between [...]
If you have ever thought about writing your own will either by hand (a “holographic will”) or by using prefabricated forms or online templates, think again. Your will is one of the most important documents you will ever execute in your life. What are the chances you will mess it up if you write it [...]
You may have heard of Wills, you may even know that you need one, but do you know what makes a Will valid? Why Valid Wills Are Important. Your Last Will and Testament (“Will”) determines how your property is divided when you die and who gets what. Having a Will is one of the most [...]
At Esser, Bradley and Khalsa, PPLC, we are all in favor of American independence and tackling jobs yourself. As long as you do not try to tackle drafting your own estate planning documents. Why? Because there simply are some jobs that are best left to the professionals. And doing your own estate plan is one [...]
We frequently get questions asking us about the difference between a will and a trust. While there are several important differences, here are just 2: Differences in Form and Purpose. Your will (“Last Will and Testament”) is a legal document that states your final wishes and gives instructions about how to divide up your property [...]
In estate planning, much depends on making sure that your will is correct in all respects and error-free. So here are some things to keep in mind when it comes to writing your will. Wills Are Critical Documents. Your will is one of the most important documents you will ever execute in your life. A [...]
These days it seems that people will argue over just about anything. When it comes to your estate, avoiding time-consuming and expensive arguments —like will contests—is critical. Below are 3 Tips that will help you to avoid having your estate tied up in a will contest. What is a Will Contest? But before we get [...]
Usually when we mention probate, we are talking about how to avoid it. Today we thought we would give you a peek into the (dreaded) probate process. What Is Probate? Probate is the court-supervised process of distributing your assets to your heirs when you die. If you die leaving property (especially real estate) in [...]
Here at Esser, Bradley & Khalsa, PLLC, we encourage everyone to get a professionally-drafted will and to never die without a will (“intestate”). But we have to admit, there are times when you might as well have no Will at all. There are times, not often mind you, when having a will is useless. Which [...]
One of the things you want to try to avoid when you die is having someone contest your Will. (The other thing is probate. But that is the subject of other posts.) Why is that, you ask? Because will contests embroil your estate and family members in bitter and often prolonged legal battles. They can [...]
