Estate

• Article - Probate: What It Is -- and How to Avoid It

  You can't help your parent avoid death or taxes at death. But you can save time and money by helping her plan to have her property avoid probate.

• Article - Estate Planning Basics

  Estate planning manages money and property during life and passes it to survivors after death. Know what the basic estate planning documents can do.

• Checklist - 7 Questions to Ask an Estate Liquidator

  An estate liquidator can help your parents downsize. Find a reputable and effective agent who'll take care of your parents' possessions and emotions.

Blog Posts

• Blog Post - Going For Broke? Seniors Turn to Newer Loans To Avoid Cash Crunch

  Seniors hurt by the tough economy are raising money using reverse mortgages, life insurance settlements and 401k loans. In exchange for up-front cash, your parent may lose future equity or investment gains, so help them make smart money choices.

• Blog Post - Memory Loss Is on Everybody's, Um, Mind

  Many caregivers wonder about their own memory loss; these amusing readings offer a cheering perspective.

• Blog Post - The NEW Retirement Hot Spots

  Nextville by Barbara Corcoran offers a whirlwind tour of great retirement destinations around the globe.

• Blog Post - Big Brother is Watching....Mom and Dad

  A new breed of high-tech retirement community is using technology to monitor seniors with dementia and other conditions, offering new freedoms while raising privacy concerns.

• Blog Post - Should I be responsible for my father's funeral bill when he never paid child support for me?

  My parents have been divorced for more than 20 years...

Questions & Answers

• Question - How do I set up a real estate trust?

  You may be able to set up a simple living trust on your own; other types of trusts may require some guidance from a legal expert.

• Question - How do we preserve my deceased father's estate when my mother remarries?

  To find out whether you are slated to get family property when your mother remarries, you have to look at the underlying estate plan.

• Question - What's the difference between a senior real estate specialist and a garden-variety real estate agent?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - How should my father balance estate planning, tax planning, and Medicaid planning?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - How do I notify creditors of a deceased's estate?

  Laws in all states set out a simple procedure for notifying creditors and potential creditors of a death.

• Question - Since my parents own property in several states, how will their estate be administered?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Are online estate planning documents legal?

  When looking for an online product to help product your estate planning documents, shop carefully.

• Question - How do we handle paying taxes on my deceased mother's estate?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - How do we buy a house back that had a reverse mortage?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - How do I pick an attorney and what should I expect to pay?

  How do I pick an estate planning attorney for my parents? When I'm picking an attorney, should I go to a large firm, and how much should I pay?

• Question - Is it wise to put an elderly parent's home in trust?

  Should I put my elderly parent's home in a trust? Putting a house in a trust is a good way to avoid probate, although it may not be necessary.

• Question - Where can I get free legal help with estate planning?

  It’s hard to find good free legal help, but there are some low-cost alternatives.

• Question - How can I get a check cashed that was written to my deceased mother's estate?

  It will take some fancy footwork -- and possibly a court proceeding -- to cash a check made out to your mother after her death.

• Question - Can I amend a life estate?

  Before amending a life estate, consider the possible drawbacks of the arrangement.

• Question - How soon after my parent's death do I need to begin administering her will, and what's involved?

  How soon after my parent's death do I need to administer their estate and other financial affairs? What other legal matters should I be aware of?

• Question - How can I reconcile the debt of my late father?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Who is responsible for the final costs of my almost ex-husband?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Is there anything I can do if I've been excluded from a trust?

  Children can be excluded from their parents' estate plans, but it usually must be verified as an intentional move.

• Question - Can a Wisconsin resident disinherit a spouse?

  If a will does not mention a surviving spouse, the law will likely look at the document carefully -- and make some assumptions giving the survivor a share.

• Question - is it a good idea to put your IRA in a revocable living trust?

  Should I put my IRA in a revocable trust? There are good reasons to put an IRA in a revocable living trust. For one, a revocable trust avoids probate.

• Question - My father just died. What do I do first?

  There are many details to attend to in the first week or so after a death occurs -- and the busyness can sometimes feel like a blessing.

• Question - Are we entitled to my great-grandmother's property?

  Whether you have a legal claim to a distant relative's property depends on whether they did any estate planning -- and who survived whom.

• Question - From what money are final expenses paid first?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Is there any software available to help track and organize yearly costs for a guardian taking care of a parent?

  The biggest challenge in tracking guardianship expenses may be to focus on the categories to include.

• Question - With both my parents in the hospital, how can I pay their bills?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert and a Community Member

• Question - What rights do I have as a healthcare agent?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - What does the term "new trust since PPA" refer to?

  The translation is easy: PPA means "Pension Protection Act." But understanding that law is far from simple.

• Question - Do my parents need to get divorced to qualify for Medicaid?

  Should my parents get a divorce so that Dad can get Medicaid? It's possible that they won't need a divorce for him to qualify for Medicaid.

• Question - How do I talk to my elderly father about dying?

  To get guidance about how to talk with a parent about dying, pay attention to what you learned about his or her comfort level during past conversations.

• Question - What can I do if I think the trustees are acting illegally?

  When a trustee is acting illegally, you may have no choice but to hire legal help to right the wrong.

• Question - Are family corporations good or bad?

  My parents set up a family corporation to pass along their assets. Is a family corporation a good way to do this and to avoid taxes?

• Question - What are the risks with reverse mortgages?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - Are living trusts and living wills the same?

  When it comes to living wills and living trusts, only the names are similar. One concerns itself with controlling medical care; the other, passing title to property.

• Question - Am I responsible for my parent's debt?

  Am I responsible for my parent's debt? I recently discovered that my father has several thousand of dollars of debt. Are parent debts transferable?

• Question - What could be wrong with my mother-in-law who makes irrational decisions and wets herself, yet the hospital says she's competent?

  This question has been answered by a Caring.com Expert

• Question - How much should a lawyer be paid to settle an estate?

  Probate lawyers charge fees according to different methods. A word to the wise consumer is to avoid surprises by getting all fee agreements in writing.

Tips & Reflections

• Tip - Where to Check the Form of Property Ownership

  Learn how to determine the form of ownership for your parents' property.

• Tip - Dead Box

  My grandparents kept a box with all their end-of-life...