I don’t know a single person who delights in preparing their tax return. As a widow, filing your spouse/partner’s final tax return adds another layer of gloominess to the chore. And yet dealing with the tax returns of a deceased spouse is an unavoidable task every widow faces. Filing your spouse’s final taxes is definitely … Read More
When your spouse/partner dies, what happens to any debt they had or that you shared jointly? Are you responsible for any money owed? What will happen to your credit rating? With household debt in the U.S. and Canada being at or near all-time highs, chances are the death of your spouse will bring questions about … Read More
In recent posts, I covered some of the basic elements of estate planning, including information on wills and executors. Another topic I get questions on is probate. When it comes to settling an estate, many people don’t understand what probate is and what it’s all about. The following general information will provide answers to common … Read More
In my last post, I talked about the basic concepts regarding wills. In this post, I’ll run through what an executor is, what the executor’s role is, how to choose an executor and how to work with an executor. What is an executor? An executor is the person or entity (when a corporate executor is … Read More
When I was an investment advisor, estate planning often came up with clients. The focus was on planning for the eventualities. Having an up-to-date wills, having an executor appointed, and how probate works were commonly discussed. In the planning process these topics feel more abstract because they pertain to an event that will happen in … Read More
