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Some older adults are passing on their wealth to heirs while still alive. The growing popularity of “giving while living” comes as good fortune for the many young people who cannot afford a home. And for older homeowners, gifting home equity and other assets before death can be part of their estate planning strategy. ...

Life insurance ensures your loved ones have cash funds immediately available. Often, the passing of a family member comes with unexpected expenses. Many Americans have investments such as real estate or retirement accounts like 401(k)s. However, these types of assets are not liquid. ...

Trying to be equitable among your heirs can be tricky. You may hope your spouse and children will work things out after you have passed away. However, you want to avoid this common estate planning mistake. It can easily create unnecessary heartache for the loved ones you leave behind. ...

It's something everyone wants to avoid but often doesn't when dealing with an estate: probate. If you can't avoid it, here's a timeline of how it proceeds. ...

With so many people (luckily) living longer, many of us have older parents in our lives. Ideally, they can make good decisions and care for themselves up until the day they die. But what happens when an aging parent loses their ability to think clearly or make informed decisions about their life? ...

How you choose to store your relevant data depends on the amount of labor and time you are willing to invest. Going paperless is generally safe and convenient, and relatively easy if you've already scanned and saved your printed documents. ...

If you are a homeowner who is falling behind on your real estate taxes, you may end up facing foreclosure on your property. Because your property taxes hinge on the value of your property, you may find your taxes rising beyond what you can afford. Before your situation becomes more serious, be sure to educate yourself. ...

Etate planning can benefit people across the economic spectrum. Involving more than passing on wealth, estate planning also encompasses planning for aging, illnesses, or injuries, which can be unpredictable. ...