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Sibling rivalry can lead to estate disputes
Sibling rivalry often starts when children are young and are competing for the attention of their parents. In some cases, people may feel like one of their siblings was the favorite. Rather than working together within their family unit, they feel like they’re...
3 kinds of taxes that can reduce the value of a Colorado estate
Individuals planning their estates, adults tasked with probate administration and expectant beneficiaries anticipating an inheritance all have an interest in preserving as much of a testator's wealth as possible. Estate administration costs and personal debts are...
If your parents pass away with debt, do you have to pay it?
When your parents pass away, they name you as the estate administrator. You review their estate planning documents, and you are in charge of the process of distributing their assets. You also inform beneficiaries about their passing, distribute copies of the will and...
Who can challenge a will?
When an estate plan is challenged, someone contests that they do not believe that the plan should be honored as it has been written. Maybe they think that the will was fraudulent. Perhaps they think that it was only created the way it was because of undue influence....
Estate planning components you should consider
All adults need to take the time to create an estate plan, but some are uncertain of where to start. Before you try to get your affairs in order, you need at least a basic understanding of what an estate plan can do and the tools you have available to make them...
When can you remove a trustee from a trust?
When your loved one named a trustee to manage the assets in the trust that was designed to benefit you, they picked someone they believed was both honorable and capable of doing the job. Were their hopes misplaced? It happens. Sometimes, for example, a family member...
What is the effect of claims of undue influence in probate court?
For many families, the reading of someone's will is merely a technicality. The family is already familiar with the wishes of the recently deceased individual. The documents that they leave behind when they die align appropriately with the wishes they had previously...
As the executor of an estate, where do you start?
You’ve been named as the executor of a loved one’s estate, and you’re honored to be trusted with the role – but you aren’t quite sure where you’re supposed to start. With relatives clamoring for your attention and eager to gain access to family heirlooms, priceless...
Dealing with out-of-state property in your Colorado estate plan
One of the primary goals for people when they create their estate plan is preventing their estate from having to go through a lengthy probate process. A number of estate planning tools and strategies can allow your assets to pass fairly seamlessly to loved ones and...
Yes, you should talk to your adult children about your estate
As a parent, you may not be sure if you want to inform your adult children about your estate. On one hand, you may feel like you want to explain your decisions to them. On the other, you may want to keep your plans quiet, because you might not want to have to have...