Year: 2019
Protect beneficiaries with discretionary lifetime trusts
Trusts in South Carolina can protect your heirs from creditors and taxes. Even a beneficiary's divorce won't reach the assets that legally belong to the right trust. Trusts are binding agreements that shelter assets in hopes of transferring them at a later date....
Facts about the probate process
Probate can be a confusing process to someone who's experiencing it for the first time in South Carolina, and many people feel overwhelmed or intimidated by the whole thing. The good news is that the probate process isn't always complicated. What is probate? Probate...
Who needs a will and who doesn’t?
Many people in South Carolina haven't written a will yet, but most people should. It doesn't matter how old you are, and in many cases, it doesn't matter how many assets you have. If you're even asking the question, then you probably need a will. Are you married?...
What is a durable power of attorney?
Estate planning for South Carolina residents often focuses on what happens to a person’s property and assets when they die. However, there is a difficult period of time that some families go through where a loved one is still alive but incapacitated due to injury or...
Business owners need an estate plan
An estate plan is important for a parent, business owner, or anyone with assets and sentimental property they want to pass on to their family or friends after they die. Business owners should also have a plan which addresses issues such as business continuity. Estate...
Even the unmarried and childless can benefit from estate planning
Whether you are single and childless by choice or simply have not found the right “one” yet one topic that may not be on your radar is estate planning. This may especially true if you do not have children or a spouse. Still, there are good reasons why the unmarried...
What is a “will contest”?
When most South Carolinians sign their will, they assume that its words will be given the meaning that was intended when the will was signed. While almost 100% of wills signed in South Carolina pass through probate without challenge, the validity of a few wills is...
Understanding how probate affects the estate
Probate is essentially the legal process for closing out the estate of a deceased person according to state law. This process will include the verifying of the will, the formal or informal administration of the estate which includes inventorying assets and paying...
What needs to be included to ensure a will is valid
A will is important for estate planners to distribute their property and assets and can also leave a legacy and care and provide for their family members. Estate planners preparing their will should be familiar with what should they need to do to ensure their will is...
The advantages of a living trust
When most people think of estate planning, a will is the first thing that comes to mind. Although wills are useful, they are one of many different kinds of estate planning tools. A will may be suitable for some people, but others may require a different means of...