Estate Planning

In the United States, the divorce rate has hovered around 50 percent for some time now. Consequently, blended families that result from second (or subsequent) marriages have all but become the norm in the U.S. While estate planning is important for anyone with a family, it takes on heightened importance if you are part of a blended family. The Indianapolis estate planning attorneys at Frank & Kraft explain how to protect your blended family using a QTIP trust. Estate Planning … [Read more...] about How to Protect Your Blended Family Using a QTIP Trust

If you have an estate plan in place it is always a good idea to check your plan from time to time to ensure that you are not missing important components or tools in your plan. Unfortunately, people frequently have incomplete estate plans. With that in mind, the Indianapolis estate planning attorneys at Frank & Kraft discuss what might be missing from your estate plan. The Need for Comprehensive Estate Planning If you have an estate plan in place, you are better off than about half of … [Read more...] about What Might Be Missing from My Estate Plan?

If you are like the average person, you recognize the need to have a comprehensive estate plan in place, but beyond that estate planning remains somewhat of a mystery.  Estate planning encompasses much more than just deciding how your estate will be distributed after you are gone. Likewise, an estate planning attorney can do much more for you than you probably realize. The Indianapolis estate planning attorneys at Frank & Kraft explain 10 things about estate planning that you might not … [Read more...] about Top 10 Estate Planning Tips

If you have an estate plan in place, you already recognize the numerous benefits an estate plan offers. Once your plan is in place, however, you may struggle with deciding how much (if any) of the plan details to share with beneficiaries and heirs of your estate. Ultimately, it is a very personal decision; however, the Indianapolis estate planning attorneys at Frank & Kraft discuss the pros and cons of sharing your estate plan with loved ones. Pros of Sharing Details of Your Estate … [Read more...] about The Pros and Cons of Sharing Your Estate Plan with Loved Ones

One common reason people give for not having an estate plan in place is that creating an estate plan is an intimidating prospect. It can also be easy to find yourself believing one of the many myths that exist about estate planning. To help you navigate the world of estate planning, the Indianapolis estate planning attorneys at Frank & Kraft answer five common estate planning questions. Do I really need an estate plan?  One of the biggest estate planning myths is the idea that you … [Read more...] about Answers to 5 Common Estate Planning Questions

Like most areas of the law, estate planning includes concepts and legal jargon with which the average person is unfamiliar. For example, the words “bequest” and “inheritance” are often used interchangeably when, in fact, they are not always synonymous. To help you understand both terms, the Indianapolis estate planning attorneys at Frank & Kraft explain the difference between an inheritance and a bequest. What Is an “Inheritance?” While it may sound like the answer to one of those … [Read more...] about Is an Inheritance and a Bequest the Same Thing?

You may have listened to well-meaning friends and family members tell you how important it is to have an estate plan in place; however, unless you truly understand what an estate plan can do for you, it’s hard to find the motivation to get started on your plan.  The good news is that a well-thought-out estate plan can accomplish a wide range of inter-related goals. A better understanding of how an estate plan can protect you, your assets, and your loved ones during your lifetime and beyond … [Read more...] about Why Do I Need an Estate Plan?

Every year in October, the LGBT community and its supporters celebrate LGBT History Month.  If you will be among those who are celebrating the importance of LGBT history this October, this is also a great time to focus on your estate plan. LGBT History Month reminds us that while great strides have been made in the fight for equality, protecting yourself, your assets, and your loved ones through comprehensive estate planning remains essential. The Indianapolis estate planning attorneys at … [Read more...] about Reviewing Your Estate Plan for LGBT History Month

From the moment you first learned you were going to be a parent you likely worried about protecting and providing for your child. That need to protect and provide is evident in your estate plan because you want to be sure your child is financially secure if something happens to you while he/she is still young. Simply leaving an inheritance behind for your child isn’t enough though. The Indianapolis trust attorneys at Frank & Kraft help you decide who should manage your child's … [Read more...] about Who Should Manage Your Child’s Inheritance?

Each year, we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month in the United States from September 15 through October 15th. Along with partaking in the numerous and varied festivals and activities planned for Hispanic Heritage Month, the Indianapolis estate planning attorneys at Frank & Kraft encourage you to consider celebrating by sitting down and creating an estate plan to protect yourself, your assets, and your loved ones. What Is Hispanic Heritage Month? Hispanic Heritage Month began in 1968 as … [Read more...] about Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month by Creating an Estate Plan