ESTATE PLANNING: Context likely will help solve problems in will

By Christopher Yugo Times Business Columnist

Q: I recently looked at my will and realized that some of my heir's names have middle initials and some don't. Is this going to be a problem?

ESTATE PLANNING: Joint tenants with rights of survivorship

By Christopher Yugo Times Business Columnist

Q: Can more than two people own property jointly? What happens if one of them dies? Are there any risks to the others?

ESTATE PLANNING: One wedding and a funeral

By Christopher Yugo Times Business Columnist

This past weekend, I got to do something that I didn't think I would ever get to do again; I stood up in a wedding.

ESTATE PLANNING: Planning for cohabitating couples

By Christopher Yugo Times Business Columnist

Q: My girlfriend and I have been living together for almost 20 years. We both have children from previous marriages and everyone seems to get along fine. We have created wills leaving everything to each other and then the kids equally. Since …

ESTATE PLANNING: Advice to trustees

By Christopher Yugo Times Business Columnist

Q: I'm the successor trustee on a parent's trust? Any advice?

ESTATE PLANNING: What happens to the account?

By Christopher Yugo Times Business Columnist

Q: My husband is on my mother's checking account, which has about $1,500 in it. If she passes away, will he be able to write checks out of the account for expenses? I know his power of attorney will terminate but will the bank account have to…

ESTATE PLANNING: Estate planning after a divorce

By Christopher Yugo Times Business Columnist

Q: My husband and I recently went through a divorce. My attorney said I should make out a will, but I'm not sure I need one. Since I'm divorced, won't my property go to my kids anyway?

ESTATE PLANNING: Leaving a personal property distribution letter

By Christopher Yugo Times Business Columnist

Q: I've read I can leave a letter instructing my personal representative on how to distribute my personal property. How would I do this and is there a special form I should use?

ESTATE PLANNING: I should have asked Dad

By Christopher Yugo Times Business Columnist

At dinner tonight, by son Logan asked his mother "What weighs more, a pound of feathers or a pound of rocks?" Without missing a beat, Trish replied "neither, they weigh the same"

ESTATE PLANNING: Why would he be taxed differently?

By Christopher Yugo Times Business Columnist

Q: My dad told me that if I die, the beneficiary of my IRA is taxed differently than the beneficiary of my other accounts. Is this true, and why would he be taxed differently?

ESTATE PLANNING: Changing the estate planning attorney

By Christopher Yugo Times Business Columnist

Q: I have had a living trust for about 10 years. If I wanted to change my attorney, what would I have to do? I'm not keen on the one I have and his fees keep going up.

ESTATE PLANNING: Hope for the best, plan for the worst

By Christopher Yugo Times Business Columnist

Q: You hear horror stories about children fighting over a parent's things after they die. What is the best way to make sure my kids don't fight over the things I own?

ESTATE PLANNING: Where did the stock come from?

By Christopher Yugo Times Business Columnist

Q: I recently reviewed an annual statement my life insurance company sent to me. The statement indicates that I have "shares". What are shares in an insurance policy? Do I need to do anything with them? How does this fit into my trust?

ESTATE PLANNING: Tax filing deadlines

By Christopher Yugo Times Business Columnist

Q: Our mother died in November and we opened an estate. Our attorney is telling us that the tax return isn't due until August. Shouldn't the tax return be filed by April 15? What happens if we don't file the return until August?

ESTATE PLANNING: Handling pets in a will

Christopher Yugo Times Business Columnist

Time to catch up on some of the questions that readers have sent in.

ESTATE PLANNING: Jointly owned or tenants in common?

By Christopher Yugo Times Business Columnist

Q: My brother lives in the house that he and I inherited from our parents. If something happens to one of us, what happens to the house?

ESTATE PLANNING: Transferring title to trust owned property

By Christopher Yugo Times Business Columnist

Q: If my house is in the name of my trust, how do I sell it? Can I use a quit claim deed? Is there anything special that I need to take to closing?

ESTATE PLANNING: Questions of residency

By Christopher Yugo Times Business Columnist

Q: My parents spend half of the year in Indiana and half of the year in Florida. If something happens to them, where do we open the estate? Do we have to open an estate in both states?

ESTATE PLANNING: Safe deposit boxes and trusts

By Christopher Yugo Times Business Columnist

Q: My bank told me I can't put my safe deposit box in the name of my trust. If I can't put the box in the name of my trust, how will my trustee get into it if something happens to me? What happens to the items if I place them in the box?

ESTATE PLANNING: Non-Indiana resident can be personal representative

By Christopher Yugo Times Business Columnist

Q: I want to name my son executor in my will. Will it be a problem if he lives out of state? He also got into some trouble when he was younger but has stayed out of trouble since then? Will that be an issue?