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Estate Planning Financial Topic

By definition, estate planning helps you manage and preserve your assets while you are alive so that you can control their distribution after you’re gone. But what estate planning means to you specifically depends on who you are. Your age, health, wealth, lifestyle, life stage, goals, and many other factors determine your particular estate planning needs.
Articles
Assets
ArticleAsset protection in estate planning
ArticleEstate planning and 529 plans
ArticleTransferring your family business
Beneficiary designations
ArticleChoosing a beneficiary for your IRA or 401(k)
Charitable giving
ArticleCharitable giving
Estate planning basics
ArticleAn Estate Plan Is More than Just a Will
ArticleEstate planning--an introduction
ArticleEstate Taxes
ArticleFacing the possibility of incapacity
ArticleGift and estate taxes
ArticleInformation Youll Need When Preparing a Will
ArticleMake Your Executors Job Easier
ArticleObtaining a Death Certificate
ArticleTrust basics
ArticleWills--the cornerstone of your estate plan
Life insurance
ArticleLife insurance and estate planning
Medicaid planning
ArticleMedicaid and nursing home care
ArticleMedicaid and the principal residence
ArticleMedicaid planning basics
Probate
ArticleBypassing probate
ArticleUnderstanding probate
Tools
Business planning
ToolBusiness life insurance needs
ToolBusiness succession planning alternatives
ToolChoosing a business entity
ToolHow cross purchase plans work
ToolHow entity purchase plans work
ToolNumber of policies needed with a cross purchase plan
ToolPlanning for succession of a business interest
Charitable giving
ToolHow a charitable lead trust works
ToolHow a charitable remainder trust works
ToolThe best property to give to charity
Estate planning basics
ToolCommon incapacity documents
ToolEstate shrinkage
ToolEstate Tax Planning
ToolFederal estate tax estimator
ToolFederal transfer tax exemption amounts under the Tax Act of 2001
ToolLife Insurance Calculator
ToolSteps to estate planning success
ToolTable of federal estate tax brackets and exemption limits
Life insurance
ToolLife insurance needs analyzer
Probate
ToolThe probate process: 3 to 9 months after death
ToolThe probate process: 9 to 12 months after death
ToolThe probate process: initial tasks
ToolTypes of post-mortem elections
Trusts
ToolAdvantages of trusts
ToolHow a grantor retained income trust (GRIT) works
ToolHow an irrevocable life insurance trust (ILIT) works
ToolHow an irrevocable trust protects assets
FAQs
Estate and gift tax
FAQHow can I determine what my business is worth for estate and gift tax purposes?
FAQHow can I minimize taxes on my estate?
FAQHow will estate taxes be paid if I leave no provision in my will?
FAQI just made a gift. Do I have to file a gift tax return?
FAQThe death benefit from insurance on my life will be paid to an irrevocable life insurance trust (ILIT). What if those funds are needed to pay my estate taxes?
FAQWhat is a family limited partnership, and will it help reduce estate taxes?
FAQWhat is the applicable exclusion amount?
Estate planning basics
FAQHow often do I need to review my estate plan?
FAQIsn't estate planning only for the rich?
FAQWhat makes up my taxable estate?
Life insurance and estate planning
FAQAre life insurance proceeds income taxable?
FAQThe death benefit from insurance on my life will be paid to an irrevocable life insurance trust (ILIT). What if those funds are needed to pay my estate taxes?
FAQWhat is a life insurance trust and why should I consider establishing one?
FAQWhen I die, is my beneficiary required to take a lump-sum payment of my life insurance death benefit?
Planning for incapacity
FAQWhat is an advanced directive for health care, and will it help me avoid court involvement during incapacity?
FAQWhat is the difference between a power of attorney and a durable power of attorney?
Probate
FAQDoes property owned jointly avoid probate?
FAQWhat is probate and why do I want to avoid it?
Trusts
FAQCan an UGMA/UTMA account reduce my child's financial aid for college?
FAQShould I establish a trust for my child's college education fund?
FAQWhat is a Crummey power?
FAQWhat is a life insurance trust and why should I consider establishing one?
FAQWhat is a living trust?
Wills
FAQCan I disinherit relatives I don't like?
FAQCan I transfer my business through my will?
FAQDo I have to accept a bequest I don't want?
FAQDo I need an attorney to prepare my will?
FAQHow will estate taxes be paid if I leave no provision in my will?
FAQI want my son to have my valuable collection of baseball cards when I die. How do I make sure he gets it?
FAQWhat is the difference between a living will and a living trust?
FAQWhat will happen if I die without a will?
FAQWho should I name as guardian of my children in case my spouse and I should die at the same time?
FAQWho should I name as trustee?