A discussion on the importance of estate planning for young adults? Don’t Threaten Me With A Good Time!

A trust is created and funded in its own way. A testamentary trust is funded after death, while a living trust can be funded during your lifetime.

Would we say probate is bad? No, probate is not bad, but there are disadvantages, such as public records, long timelines, and expensive fees.

Time to start your estate plan and learn which documents you need.

There are very few disadvantages of having a Revocable Trust in Iowa. It will cost more, but will save time and money for your loved ones if drafted and funded by an experienced estate planning attorney in Iowa.

Sometimes. If a loved one passed away with an asset in Iowa, a letter of appointment is not always required.

This article is an “if this, then that” on very small estates in Iowa, an area where Hope Wood JD is ready to help. We receive questions every day about how to transfer assets and have provided the answers.

A recent Iowa Appellate Court decision brings this question to the forefront for probate attorneys and those who hire them.

A payable-on-death (POD) designation is a seamless way to transfer an asset without probate and is straightforward to implement.

Yes, having a will is beneficial in almost every circumstance. We may seem biased because we are in the business of preparing Wills, Trusts, and Powers of Attorney.

The requirement of probate in Iowa stems from how the asset is owned and how it transfers by law. Real estate is an asset that requires probate to transfer or be sold if there is not a surviving joint owner.

Our new workbook explains probate for executors and administrators and offers a step-by-step rundown of the process.

A decision about organ donation is unique to each individual. The thought of organ donation can create so much indecision that you don’t make a decision at all. Your initial instinct about organ donation is what you should do.

This year, Hope Wood JD celebrates a decade of legal practice in Iowa. The firm’s focus on guiding families through the estate-planning and probate process has resulted in more than 1,500 satisfied clients.

“My kids will do the right thing.” This statement is an ingredient for a recipe of headaches and bad blood between your children. When assets are unequally distributed under law, trusting your adult children to “make it right” is a risk you should avoid and can avoid.

Promises and conversations that are not in the Will are not legally enforceable and a recent Iowa Court of Appeals case confirms it in The Estate of Delores Todd.

You don’t have to know everything. You don’t have to keep track of everyone or make sure 100% of everything gets done. You are responsible for yourself. Don’t place unrealistic expectations on your performance in life. No one is keeping score.

Take a minute and congratulate yourself for having a Last Will and Testament. You have completed an emotional and financial investment to leave clear instructions for your family after your death. That is a hard journey and is one to celebrate.

Should I store my Will in a Safety Deposit Box?

Life is tough. And very often we feel disappointed, let down and beat up. Good things can and do happen, but life can throw you a curveball, then a breaker ball, then a drop pitch. You can come to terms with a bad situation only to find another one is hiding right behind it ready to latch on to your heart.

Divorce is a difficult process. The last thing you want to think about it updating your estate plan. Lack of information is a common reason for inaction. See my checklist below on being prepared for every situation.

People need a Will much sooner in life than they realize. Specifically if they want certain people or organizations to be the beneficiaries of their assets. Conversations about your wishes are not legally enforceable without a Will. Or your transfer of assets may not be set up to occur the way you intend.