Welcome to the Rilus Law Blog!
One of our core values is empowerment and education is a key component of that. Because we are passionate about estate planning, we provide many free resources to empower our community. Explore the blog to gain a deeper understanding of estate planning, or feel free to reach out to us with questions. You could get all your questions answered in a free one-hour meeting with an experienced estate planning and probate attorney.
Explore all of our posts below, or search for a specific topic here.
The Power of Healthcare Directives in Estate Planning: Your Protector in Times of Crisis
For most people, estate planning means passing wealth after life, but what about during it? When planning your estate, it is easy to overlook the protection of your wishes in case you are still living but are unable to act on your own behalf. That is the power of healthcare directives in estate planning.
Protecting Your Estate from Creditors: 5 Proven Strategies
Your estate, i.e., the money, properties, and other assets you own upon your death, is the fruit of your life’s hard work and sacrifices. While you cannot take these possessions with you to your grave, you can ensure they go to the people you love or the causes you support. While you are still capable and living, it is essential that you proactively plan for the future of your estate, including protecting your estate from creditors.
Millennial Estate Planning: Why You Should Start Early
If you’re like most millennials—anyone in their late 20s to early 40s—you probably agree that estate planning is important. Despite this awareness, only a small percentage of millennials have a plan in place. Why? Many believe they don’t have enough assets yet, aren’t sure where to start, or assume estate planning is something to deal with “later.”
Living Trust vs. Last Will: Pros and Cons Explained
Of all the estate planning tools out there, these two are the most popular: Living Trust and Last Will. It’s no wonder that one of the most common questions people ask us is: "Should I create a living trust or a last will?"
Protecting Your Assets: How to Avoid Probate
Estate planning is all about securing your assets and ensuring they go to the loved ones you intend, without unnecessary delays or expenses. One of the most critical steps in achieving this is avoiding probate.
Types of Sub-Trusts: What is a Dynasty Trust?
When it comes to estate planning, ensuring your wealth is preserved for generations requires more than just a basic trust. That’s where dynasty sub-trusts come in—a strategic tool that protects assets, minimizes taxes, and provides long-term financial security for your family. But what exactly is a dynasty sub-trust, and how does it fit into a larger estate plan?
Avoid Common Mistakes: How to Choose the Right Executor for Your Estate
The executor, a pivotal figure in the management of your estate, holds the key to ensuring your wishes and intentions are faithfully carried out. A well-chosen executor can streamline the process, while a poor choice can lead to delays, disputes, higher costs, and added stress for your grieving loved ones.
Estate Planning for Blended Families: Tips and Challenges
With the rise of divorce and remarriage cases in the US, blended families are becoming increasingly common. The complex and often uniquely interesting dynamics in these types of families can make estate planning a delicate process.
Why Every College Student Needs a Power of Attorney (and How to Get One)
Sending your child to college is an exciting and significant milestone for any parent. When you’re done helping them with packing dorm essentials or setting their course schedules, we suggest you look into their most crucial legal document - the Power of Attorney (POA).
Estate Planning Essentials: What To Do When Your Spouse Dies
Aside from causing major trauma and grief, the death of your spouse impacts you more than you think. For one, you will be responsible for settling your deceased loved one’s estate.
Gifted House vs. Inherited House: Which is Better for Taxes and Medicaid Eligibility?
When homeowners do estate planning, their most common question is how to transfer the ownership of their home to their heirs. Should you gift your house during your lifetime or leave it as an inheritance upon your death?
Gun Trust Explained: Safeguarding Your Firearms
Navigating the intricate landscape of estate planning is already challenging for those with complex assets and situations. For gun owners, this challenge is amplified due to the unique legal considerations surrounding firearms.
Updating a Will: A Comprehensive Guide to Changing Your Will
A will is one of the most useful tools you can use when planning for your estate. Upon your passing, this simple document is your loved ones’ guide for distributing your assets to your beneficiaries.
Charitable Estate Planning: Leave a Legacy of Compassion
Imagine creating a legacy that extends beyond your lifetime, touching lives and making a positive impact on the world. Charitable estate planning allows you to do just that.
Types of Sub-Trusts: What is an Age-Restricted Trust?
Of the many trust types that are used as a sub-trust, the most common is an age-restricted trust, also called age trust or trust for minors. When created under a larger trust structure, the age-restricted trust becomes a sub-trust that can specify the ages or milestones at which the beneficiaries can access the trust’s assets.
Power of Attorney: What is it and How to Set it Up
A power of attorney (POA) is one of the most valuable legal documents in estate planning, as it serves a crucial purpose while you are still alive.
Probate, Community Property, and Common Law Marriage: What You Need to Know
Navigating the legal landscape of probate can be complex, especially when questions about community property and common law marriage come into play.
Why Your Digital Assets Deserve a Place in Your Estate Plan
In today's digital age, our online presence and digital assets have become as integral as physical property. Yet, they are often overlooked in traditional estate planning.
Finding the Right Estate Planning Attorney
When it comes to estate planning, selecting the right attorney is crucial. Your choice will impact not just the efficiency and effectiveness of your estate plan, but also the peace of mind for you and your loved ones.
Leaving Money to Minors: Challenges and Tools
Money holds significance when it serves a purpose, and few endeavors embody a more profound purpose than securing the future of our children. From the earliest stages of their lives to the moment we pass on, the responsibility to provide for them resonates deeply within us.
Still Have Questions or Not Sure Where to Begin?
Contact us today to schedule your free one-hour meeting with an attorney to assess your estate planning needs.