Estate Planning

By its very nature, estate planning is a highly personal undertaking. The details regarding the division of your estate assets, for example, are not something you likely share with anyone outside your immediate family. You may not even want your immediate family members to know how your estate assets are distributed after you are gone. If you use a Last Will and Testament as your primary estate planning vehicle, however, you won’t be able to keep the terms of that Will private after your death. … [Read more...] about How Can a Trust Help Keep My Estate Planning Details Private?

If you have children, you have likely tried to treat your children equally and not play favorites. When it comes to deciding how to distribute your estate, however, an equal distribution may be problematic. When your children are young, there are no extenuating circumstances to consider which makes decisions regarding the distribution of assets within your estate plan much easier. Once they are adults, however, things may become more complicated, and you may have concerns about distributing … [Read more...] about What to Do If You Are Considering an Unequal Division of Your Estate

Estate planning, by definition, involves making plans for your estate assets in the event of your death. Your estate consists of all real and personal property as well as tangible and intangible assets owned by you, or in which you share an ownership interest, at the time of your death. Assets such as your home, vehicles, investment accounts, and securities likely come to mind when you contemplate estate planning; however, there is another category of assets that may also need to be considered – … [Read more...] about Intellectual Property and Your Estate Plan

The month of November, also known as "Movember," is all about men's health awareness. During Movember mustaches grow longer. Those mustaches turn men into walking, talking billboards for men’s health to bring attention to prostate cancer, testicular cancer, mental health, and suicide prevention. The Indianapolis estate planning attorneys at Frank & Kraft encourage you to review your estate plan during Men’s Health Awareness Month this Movember to make sure it protects you, your assets, and … [Read more...] about “Movember” Is a Good Time to Review Your Estate Plan

As a parent, grandparent, or other family member, you may wish to gift assets to minors within your estate plan. If so, care must be taken when making gifts to minors, both during your lifetime and after you are gone. The Indianapolis estate planning attorneys at Frank & Kraft explain why you need to understand the Uniform Transfer to Minors Act (UTMA) if you plan to transfer assets to minors in your estate plan. The History of the UTMA The Uniform Transfer to Minors Act is a model law … [Read more...] about What Is Uniform Transfer to Minors Act?

As a business owner, the need for comprehensive and inclusive estate planning is amplified. Without a business succession planning component in your estate plan, all the hard work and sacrifice on your part to get your business off the ground may be at risk if something happens to you. The Indianapolis business succession planning attorneys at Frank & Kraft are committed to helping you protect your investment by explaining the importance of business succession planning. The Importance of … [Read more...] about Is Your Business Protected in Your Estate Plan?

A Last Will and Testament is traditionally used to distribute estate assets in a simple estate plan. If your estate plan still uses a Will for its foundation, it might be time to consider another option – a trust. A trust can also be used to distribute estate assets after your death; however, a trust can also be used to help achieve a multitude of additional estate planning goals in the meantime. An Indianapolis estate planning attorney at Frank & Kraft discussing the use of a Will or a … [Read more...] about Should I Use a Last Will or a Living Trust to Distribute My Estate?

The divorce rate in the U.S. continues to hover around 50 percent for a first marriage. Many of those divorces result in a remarriage, making blended families common in the U.S. If you are part of a blended family, you know the hard work it takes to successfully blend two existing families into one harmonious new family. One thing you don’t want to overlook when creating a blended family is the importance of a having a comprehensive estate plan in place. Toward that end, an Indianapolis estate … [Read more...] about Remarriage and Your Estate Plan

The loss of a spouse is one of the most emotional experiences you will probably have to go through over the course of your life. The last thing you may wish to think about while you are grieving the loss of a spouse is something as seemingly mundane as updating your estate plan. Failing to do so, however, could lead to some unintended and unwanted consequences. An Indianapolis estate planning attorney at Frank & Kraft discusses five estate plan documents you should update following the death … [Read more...] about 5 Estate Plan Documents to Update after the Death of a Spouse

There is little doubt that estate planning can be a difficult and complex endeavor. People put off creating an estate plan for many reasons. Some do so because they do not want to face their own mortality while others simply find the prospect intimidating and confusing. Unfortunately, a recent Caring.com study shows that even fewer people are engaging in estate planning than were a few short years ago. The Indianapolis estate planning attorneys at Frank & Kraft explain the findings and … [Read more...] about Study Shows Less People Are Engaging in Estate Planning