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The person you choose to be your executor (sometimes called a personal representative) will play an extremely important role, as that person will be responsible for gathering, securing, managing, and ultimately distributing your money and property when you pass away. As a result, you should make your selection only after careful consideration regarding who is the best person to fulfill this role. Don’t just choose your oldest child because that’s what you think is expected: …

You may have heard about conservation easements in the news over the past few years and the tax benefits available through the use of them. But what are they and how can they benefit you?  Defining Conservation Easements A typical conservation easement is created when a landowner makes an agreement (known as a “servitude”) with a charitable organization or government “land trust.” This agreement gives the organization or land trust certain rights to preserve and …

It is not uncommon for couples to enter into marital agreements stating what property is separately owned by each spouse and the property rights each spouse will have in the event of separation, divorce, or death. They are most common when one or both of the spouses is wealthy, owns a family business, or expects a large inheritance, as well as when one or both spouses marries for a second time. Because these agreements can …

Ask a group of friends if they have experienced a family fight over property after a loved one has died, and you will be in for a lively and eye-opening conversation. Far too many families end up fighting, or at least experiencing tension, over a family inheritance. But it does not have to be that way. Many families have worked through the details of divvying up a deceased loved one’s property remarkably well and ended …

Franchise and multilevel marketing (MLM) businesses are often attractive because they offer people the chance to start a small business with a well-known brand and an established business model. However, they present different estate planning challenges than other types of small businesses because the rights and obligations of franchisees and multilevel marketers are spelled out in contractual agreements. What Is a Franchise? When you purchase a franchise, you are purchasing a unit from a company …