10 Steps to Settling an Estate | AmeriEstate Legal Plan
October 24,
2023

10 Steps to Settling an Estate

If you are the executor of an estate, you have an important role to play after the estate owner passes. Whether for a family member or friend, the process can be overwhelming at a time when you are likely experiencing significant emotional stressors. However, taking the right steps to settle the estate is a legal and functional necessity.

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4 Things to Know About Amending Living Trusts | AmeriEstate Legla Plan
September 19,
2023

4 Things to Know About Amending Living Trusts

Living trusts offer significant protections for your estate and heirs. You set them up with care and thought, but what happens when your circumstances or wishes change? Life isn’t static. You’ll want your trust to remain updated throughout your lifetime.

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August 04,
2023

The Importance of Incapacity Planning

If you’re like many, you don’t really want to think about what happens if you sustain a serious injury or illness. It’s incredibly challenging if you are healthy. However, planning for it can provide a sense of relief for you and your loved one. You and they will know what to expect and what to do should you become incapacitated and no longer able to make decisions for yourself.

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Assets Discovered After Trust Distribution | AmeriEstate Legal Plan
June 27,
2023

Assets Discovered After Trust Distribution

So you've distributed a trust, believing that all the assets were accounted for and transferred to their intended beneficiaries. It seems like a job well done, ensuring everyone received what they were entitled to. But what if, after the distribution, you stumble upon the startling revelation that there are additional assets that were overlooked or not previously known? The question arises: What happens if assets are discovered after a trust has been distributed? In this perplexing scenario, a series of legal implications, challenges, and potential solutions come into play. This kind of situation isn’t uncommon, and while the landscape of post-distribution asset discoveries may seem intricate, there are ways to prevent such a predicament from happening, as well as solutions on how to tackle the situation if it has already happened.

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The Importance of Settling Trust Debts First - Ensuring a Fair and Responsible Distribution of Assets | AmeriEstate Legal Plan
June 15,
2023

The Importance of Settling Trust Debts First: Ensuring a Fair and Responsible Distribution of Assets

The process of distributing assets from a deceased individual's estate can be difficult and emotionally challenging for the heirs involved. While it may be tempting to swiftly divide the estate among beneficiaries, it is essential to understand the importance of prioritizing the payment of debts before distributing assets. By doing so, you can ensure a fair and responsible distributions, protect the integrity of the estate, and fulfill legal obligations. Let’s explore why it is crucial to prioritize settling the deceased estate's debts before distributing assets to the heirs.

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Inheritance Distribution to Minors | AmeriEstate Legal Plan
June 15,
2023

Inheritance Distribution to Minors

A properly crafted estate plan should always contain well written distribution provisions when the recipient is a minor. The creator of the estate plan first needs to determine the age of partial or outright distribution. This can be any age but a common guideline, although not required, might be upon the recipient attaining the age of twenty-five years.  This does not mean that no distributions are available to the recipient prior to that age.  A well written estate plan will establish the age of distribution and rules for the distribution prior to the beneficiary attaining said age.  For definition purposes, a beneficiary is considered a minor if they have not yet attained the age of partial or outright distribution. 

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Trustee vs Executor - What's the Difference? | AmeriEstate Legal Plan
June 06,
2023

Trustee vs Executor: What’s the Difference?

If you are wading into the estate-planning process, you might be overwhelmed by the decisions you must make. It can be a complex endeavor and having to understand the numerous documents and terminology involved doesn’t make it any easier. One of AmeriEstate’s roles is helping people understand an estate plan's structural and legal aspects to reduce confusion and make it easier to navigate the process.

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