By Linda T. Cammuso If you had a heart condition you would not see a general practitioner or go online to figure out your own treatment. You’d look for a heart specialist — one with extensive training and understanding of coronary heart disease to reduce your risk of a heart attack or stroke. Similarly, if […]

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By Linda T. Cammuso Avoidance behavior is easy and we all practice it to an extent. More often than not, though, people make mistakes by delaying important decisions that can have profoundly negative consequences for them and their loved ones. When it comes to estate planning here are four major mistakes that people make before […]

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By Linda T. Cammuso A new client recently told me that he has been delaying the task of updating his will since his wife passed away 15 years ago. I expected him to cite the usual factors — discomfort with thinking about death, lingering grief over his wife’s passing or even cost-sensitivity and was surprised […]

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By Linda T. Cammuso Last month, I discussed the use of living trusts as an effective technique for probate avoidance and contrasted trusts with some of the risky or unfavorable techniques people often use to avoid probate (such as titling assets in children’s names). People’s efforts to avoid probate are often motivated by fear of […]

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By Linda T. Cammuso Last month, I discussed the probate process and people’s efforts to avoid probate, which often results in needless exposure of their assets and loss of significant income tax benefits. For those who wish to steer clear of probate court, there are many alternatives to joint ownership (adding someone else’s name to […]

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We hear a lot these days about probate, usually in the context of avoiding it. New clients working with an estate planning attorney usually start the conversation by saying, “No matter what it takes, I want to stay away from probate.” Probate avoidance is a common and appropriate goal in the estate planning process.

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