Estate Planning

Over the last several decades, national borders have all but disappeared, leading to a dramatic increase in cross-border marriages in the United States. In fact, the United States Census Bureau reports that one in five marriages in the U.S. today includes a spouse born outside the U.S. Of those marriages, about 60 percent of the foreign-born spouses have become naturalized citizens, leaving the remaining 40 percent as non-citizens. If you are married to a non-citizen, the Indianapolis estate … [Read more...] about Why Estate Planning Is Important for Multi-National Couples

Today, few employers fund pensions and Social Security retirement benefits have not kept up with the cost of living. Consequently, many of my clients contribute to an Individual Retirement Account (IRA) during their working years to ensure they have sufficient assets available when they retire. If your IRA is a “stretch IRA” it is crucial to understand how the recently enacted SECURE Act impacts that account. With that in mind, the Indianapolis estate planning attorneys at Frank & Kraft … [Read more...] about How the SECURE Act Impacted Your Stretch IRA

Estate planning and related areas of the law are typically unfamiliar to the average person. This often means that people do not realize how an estate planning attorney can help them or when they need the assistance of one. To help make sure you get the guidance and assistance you need when you need it, the Indianapolis estate planning attorneys at Frank & Kraft explain 10 reasons why you might need to consult with an estate planning attorney. Contact Indianapolis Estate Planning … [Read more...] about 10 Reasons You Might Need an Estate Planning Attorney

Like most people, you probably created a Last Will and Testament as the foundation of your estate plan. At some point, you may also want to add a Living Will to that plan to ensure that your wishes will be honored regarding end-of-life healthcare decisions. Toward that end, the Indianapolis estate planning attorneys at Frank & Kraft explain what an Indiana Living Will is and why you need one. Advance Directive Basics An advance directive is a legal document that allows you make … [Read more...] about What Is an Indiana Living Will?

Having at least a basic estate plan in place is important for every adult. If you are the parent of a young child, however, the need for careful estate planning is heightened. Your minor child cannot manage his/her own inheritance. Consequently, you must choose someone to do so for your child. For most parents, this means choosing a Trustee for the trust they create. The Indianapolis estate planning attorneys at Frank & Kraft help you choose the right person to guard your child’s … [Read more...] about Choosing the Right Trustee to Manage Your Child’s Inheritance

If you own real property, and you want to keep that property out of probate after you are gone, creating the right type of co-ownership may be a viable option. While you will get probate avoidance benefits by creating a joint tenancy, there are other factors you should consider before using that strategy for your real property. An Indianapolis estate planning attorney at Frank & Kraft explains how the way you co-own real property in Indiana matters. Why Does It Matter How Real Property Is … [Read more...] about Does It Matter How I Co-Own Real Property in Indiana?

Making sure that assets are distributed as intended is the primary motivation for most people to create an estate plan. That same estate plan, however, can provide a variety of additional benefits to you and your family. One important benefit of creating a comprehensive estate plan is that it can dramatically decrease the likelihood of disputes, both while you are alive and after you are gone. To explain, the Indianapolis estate planning attorneys at Frank & Kraft help you understand how … [Read more...] about How Can Estate Planning Help Avoid Disputes?

If you do not yet have an estate plan in place, you have probably had to listen to well-meaning friends and family members nagging you about getting started on one. They do mean well, and you do realize you need a plan, so why not just use a few “Do-It-Yourself” forms you find on the internet to get your plan started? Although that may sound like a perfect solution, the Indianapolis estate planning attorneys at Frank & Kraft help you understand the disadvantages of DIY estate … [Read more...] about Understanding the Disadvantages of Do-It-Yourself (DIY) Estate Planning

You have undoubtedly been told by well-meaning friends and family member how important it is to execute a Last Will and Testament. Unless you understand why that is so important, however, you may lack sufficient motivation to get started on your Will. The Indianapolis estate planning attorneys at Frank & Kraft explain what happens to your estate using the Indiana intestate succession laws. Last Will and Testament Basics A Last Will and Testament is a legal document that allows the … [Read more...] about Indiana Intestate Succession

Creating a comprehensive estate plan is typically a complex process. When done correctly, it is also a process that never really ends. Instead, your estate plan should evolve over time and grow along with your family and your estate. As your plan evolves, you will likely find the need to include additional estate planning tools and strategies that help you accomplish additional goals and fulfill the needs of your growing family. Despite the abundant tools available to help you with your estate … [Read more...] about Using a Letter of Instruction to Supplement Your Estate Plan