By creating a comprehensive inventory, obtaining proper valuations, using wills, trusts or entities to control their disposition, preparing your executor and heirs, and addressing complex tax and cross‑border issues, you can protect your collection and honor your intentions. Estate planning for art and collectibles is not simply about avoiding taxes; it is about safeguarding your legacy, supporting loved ones and perhaps even sharing beauty with the world long after you are

Family business succession planning protects that legacy. By separating ownership from management, drafting fair buy‑sell agreements, leveraging trusts and family entities, ensuring liquidity, involving professionals and preparing the next generation, founders can hand off their businesses with confidence. In doing so, they honor their hard work, care for their family’s financial security and give the company its best chance to succeed for generations to come.

Blending lives and families brings both joy and complexity. It requires patience, empathy and, most importantly, clear communication. When it comes to wealth and legacy, estate planning for blended families is not a one‑size‑fits‑all endeavor. It demands tailored solutions that reflect individual values and family dynamics while adhering to the laws that govern inheritance.

Dying without a will thrusts your loved ones into a rigid statutory framework that rarely reflects personal values. It can cause delays, expense and heartache, and often leads to outcomes that the decedent would have never chosen. By creating a clear estate plan, you take control of your legacy, protect those you care about and spare them the complications that accompany intestacy. If you have not yet drafted a will or considered a trust, make it a priority.

By understanding each phase of probate, preparing thorough estate planning documents and selecting responsible fiduciaries, you can help ensure that the process moves as smoothly and efficiently as possible. When in doubt, seek guidance from experienced estate planning attorneys and financial professionals who can navigate local laws and court procedures on your behalf.

No two estates or trusts are exactly alike. While averages suggest that simple probates finish within a year and uncomplicated trusts within six months to eighteen months, real‑world timelines are shaped by a host of factors: assets, debts, disputes, court backlogs and the diligence of the people involved. By understanding typical probate and trust administration timelines, preparing thoroughly and choosing competent fiduciaries, you can navigate the process more smoothly and

By planning for pets during incapacity and probate, you bridge the gap between your control and the legal transition to your executor or trustee. A thoughtful, well‑funded pet trust combined with clear emergency instructions offers peace of mind that your pets will continue to receive the love and care they deserve.

By keeping thorough records, communicating openly with beneficiaries and referencing professional fee schedules, trustees can justify their compensation and minimize disputes. Ultimately, the goal is fairness—ensuring that trustees are adequately rewarded for their service while preserving the trust’s assets for the beneficiaries’ benefit.

Taking on the role of a trustee is a significant responsibility. You are entrusted with managing assets, making decisions, and ensuring the trust operates according to its terms and the law. Whether you are new to this role or have experience, understanding your duties clearly is crucial. This trustee responsibilities guide will help you navigate your role with confidence and clarity.

A special needs trust (sometimes called a supplemental needs trust) preserves eligibility by owning assets for the beneficiary and spending them only in ways that supplement—rather than replace—government support. At the heart of every special needs trust is the trustee, charged with administering the trust in accordance with complex laws and regulations. The trustee’s role is both vital and challenging, requiring diligence, compassion, and an understanding of public benefit

Executor and trustee compensation is one of the most delicate topics in estate and trust administration. Fiduciaries deserve to be paid for their work and the personal liability they assume, yet fees that are opaque or excessive breed resentment and can undermine family harmony. Understanding how fees are determined—whether by the governing document, statutory schedules, or the multifactor reasonableness standard—allows both fiduciaries and beneficiaries to approach the topic

When a person establishes a trust, they often have more than one beneficiary in mind. A spouse might receive income during their lifetime, while children or grandchildren are slated to inherit what remains. This creates two distinct classes of beneficiaries: those who benefit now and those who benefit later. Navigating these competing interests is one of the most challenging aspects of administering a trust. At the heart of this challenge lies the trustee’s duty of impartiali

Communication and transparency are at the heart of good trust administration. By keeping beneficiaries informed and providing regular accountings, trustees build trust, avoid conflict and fulfill their legal duties. Beneficiaries, in turn, should understand their rights to information and act if those rights are ignored. A well‑managed trust is not a secret—it is a collaboration between the trustee and the beneficiaries, grounded in openness and accountability.

Trustees are fiduciaries: they must invest and manage the trust’s money prudently, not only for the present beneficiaries but often for generations to come. One of the cornerstones of modern trust law is the prudent investor rule, which tells trustees how they should think about investing. Closely related is the duty to diversify. Together, these principles guide trustees through one of the most challenging parts of trust administration—deciding what to buy, what to sell and

Florida law imposes duties on the personal representative to administer the estate efficiently while protecting creditors and heirs. Understanding how these rules work and why the process takes time can help families set realistic expectations and avoid unnecessary disputes.

The law does not usually impose a rigid number of days or months for trustees to distribute assets. Instead, it applies a more flexible standard: distributions must be made within a reasonable time. What counts as reasonable depends on the complexity of the trust, the types of assets involved, and the risks that remain outstanding.

This article provides a comprehensive guide to executor and trustee compensation in California, including statutory references, examples, co-fiduciary arrangements, and practical drafting tips.

Unlike some states that simply say “reasonable compensation,” New York uses a statutory commission system for both trustees and executors, though the details differ. This article provides a comprehensive overview of trustee and executor compensation in New York, including statutory formulas, income rules, co-fiduciary arrangements, and examples. We’ll also explore when the trust or will may override the default rules, how courts resolve disputes, and how New York compares to

Trustee compensation should reflect the scope of work, risk, and skill required. The cleanest outcomes happen when the trust is clear, the trustee communicates early and often, and records show the value delivered. Whether the trustee is a family member or a professional office, transparency plus strong documentation keeps fees fair—and relationships intact.

Florida provides a clear statutory framework for compensating personal representatives and flexible guidelines for compensating trustees. As of 2025, executors may rely on the sliding scale of percentages provided by statute, with the option to request more or less based on the work required.