Fall is here! Well, almost. Though it is still pretty hot out there, fall is upon us. After all, most stores have already begun putting out their Halloween decorations, much to spooky-season-lovers’ delight. We’re only a few weeks away from pumpkin spice and horror movies.

​With the arrival of this new season, it’s important to make sure that you’ve revised your estate plan, if necessary. In this guide, we’ll talk about why revising is vital, and we’ll give you information on life changes that might require you to add an additional tools to your estate planning toolbox. While the rule of thumb states that you should review your estate plan every three to five years, sometimes, you have to revise it sooner than that time frame.

What Happens If You Don’t Revise?

​If you don’t revise your estate plan, this mistake can lead to people being left out. There might be a would-be heir that gets nothing because he or she wasn’t included in your will. On the reverse side, people might be included who shouldn’t be, including exes, individuals with whom you’ve had a falling out, the deceased, and more. It makes everything easier come probate (should your estate have to go through this process) if your plan is up-to-date.

​There are several life events that should trigger you to contact your estate planning attorney for a meeting. These include divorce, death, marriage, new births, and illness. We’ll go through each below, giving examples of how they could change your estate plan.

Divorce

​Divorce is the legal end of a marriage. It brings with it a lot of challenges, no matter how amicable this split might be (and it’s rarely that amicable). When you and your ex-spouse get divorced, you need to remove him or her from your estate plan. They also need to be removed as a beneficiary from any insurance or retirement policies you may have. When you talk to your lawyer, he or she will help you “scrub” your estate plan to ensure that you remove your ex-spouse.

Death

​Death is similar to divorce in that someone deceased also needs to be removed from your estate plan. Though the law won’t recognized dead or divorced parties in certain estate planning documents (it will treat them as void), it’s a good idea to keep your plan updated, so as to avoid confusion and give your estate the best chance possible at moving through probate quickly and efficiently. The deceased, though you might feel more fondly about them than your ex-spouse, need to also be “scrubbed” from your estate plan when you meet with your attorney.

Marriage & Births

​On a happier note than divorce or death, marriage and new births mean new heirs and potential beneficiaries. If you’ve welcomed someone new to the family, he or she needs to be added into your estate plan. You don’t want to wait to make this change, lest you pass before you add them and, as a result, they get left out (it happens more often than you think). Act quickly to add new family members into your will and other documents.  

Illness

​Illness (and injury) is another reason you’ll want to take a new look at your estate plan. There are many documents in an estate plan that deal with illness and end-of-life care, including a:

Though your estate plan should include these documents, if it doesn’t, you’ll need to draw them up with an attorney. Even if you have these in place, it is always a good idea to review them to make sure they are correct. As with all of the life changes in this article, you always want to ensure your estate plan is a correct reflection of your life today.  Visit our website to reach out and learn more. 

The numbers show that cryptocurrency is a huge market. No matter how you feel about the prospects of this digital, decentralized, anonymous currency, there is no denying that crypto coins are a huge part of today’s economy. The global cryptocurrency market cap, as of August 1st, 2022, is $1.06 trillion. $112 billion is traded per day, and 65% of coin owners own Bitcoin. A $22 investment in Bitcoin in 2012 is worth $1 million today.

​There are upsides and downsides to owning crypto. Advantages include protection from inflation, privacy, no attachment to banks, easy to exchange, and cost-effectiveness. More and more businesses are accepting cryptocurrency as payment. Though the market is volatile, it’s easy to see why many coin owners swear by this form of currency.

​More than 300 million people own cryptocurrency, and that means that this digital currency is a big part of estate planning for some individuals. Your estate includes your assets, and crypto is an asset for millions. Because it is an asset, that means that it can be included in an estate plan.

Crypto & Estate Planning Today

​The cryptocurrency market is evolving rapidly, and the law is still trying to catch up. Crypto does create challenges in estate planning. The virtual asset is anonymous, and it might not be easily identifiable for heirs. Additionally, Bitcoin transactions require a private key. Each wallet has a private key and public address, but, otherwise, there is little personal information attached to it. Access is not as easy as with other assets (a house or car, for example).

​Does that make it impossible to include Bitcoin and other currencies in an estate plan? Not at all. There are even cryptocurrency trustee services, and these services are the subject of this article.

Cryptocurrency Trustee Services

​Trusts can own cryptocurrency, and, in fact, it is sometimes recommended that a trust be the primary estate planning tool because trusts afford privacy that wills do not. Wills have to go through probate, a public process. Because cryptocurrency assets are accessible only through passwords, PINs, and other private information, it’s best to keep this sensitive data out of the public eye. In a cryptocurrency trust, the donor transfers legal title to the cryptocurrency to a trustee. At the donor’s request or signal, the trustee transfers the cryptocurrency to the beneficiary.

​Here are some things to think about if you have a trust that owns crypto:

If any of this is confusing, don’t worry. It’s a new field, and the law is still evolving to catch up. Contact an attorney today about setting up a cryptocurrency trust.

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Asset protection acts as a safeguard between your creditors and you if you’re going through a divorce, getting sued, or going through some other legal battle. In this litigious society, it is vitally important that you have an asset protection plan, no matter whether you’re an individual or business. The more you accumulate assets and wealth, the bigger a target you are for creditors and other people who might be looking to take your hard-earned cash and property.

What Does An Asset Protection Plan Entail?

​This plan consists of legal tools and documents that insulate your assets without running afoul of the law, hiding things, transferring fraudulently, evading taxes, or committing bankruptcy fraud. There are plenty of asset protection tools that an AP plan could entail, including:

There are many other asset protection tools; what is seen above is just a selection. Contacting an estate planning attorney will help you put together the right plan for your assets and situation.

What Can This Plan Accomplish?

​There are many different goals that having a well-structured, properly-carried-out asset protection plan can accomplish. This plan can achieve your important objectives, and it also:

Generally, estate planning is thought to involve only issues of passing property and preserving assets for family members after your death. But, asset protection, which is a part of this general field, deals with the immediate, vital need to protect your assets during your lifetime.

Who Needs An Asset Protection Plan?

​Every individual and every business can benefit from an asset protection plan, but there are some who are especially in need of an APP. They include individuals who work in high-risk professions, such as doctors and lawyers. People sue doctors and lawyers all the time, and asset protection can keep these professionals’ assets safe from liability.

​Additionally, wealthy individuals might be a target for creditors because they have a high net worth, so asset protection plans offer a shield. Sometimes, APTs are even used to replace a prenup.

​It’s important to contact an attorney to set up an asset protection plan. The attorney will be able to maneuver through the legal jargon and technicalities, setting up the plan without legal errors that could make it vulnerable to challenge.

Additionally, going through a lawyer ensures your asset protection abides by the law. There are many laws that prevent concealment and fraudulent behavior, and it is important that you do not run afoul of any of them (or you’ll find yourself with far bigger things to worry about than creditors). An attorney can make sure you toe the legal line, all while getting the most asset protection possible – contact WFP now.