Estate Planning

Is your client legally competent?

On Monday, France's wealthiest woman, L'Oreal heiress Liliane Bettencourt, lost control of her vast fortune after she failed a court-ordered incompetence test.

By Dean DiSpalatro |October 19, 2011

3 min read

Estate Planning

The quintessential fiduciary

Trustee duties explained - A trust is a relationship between three parties: the settlor, the trustee and the beneficiary.

By Elaine Blades |October 1, 2011

6 min read

Estate Planning

Avoid sibling rivalry over jointly held property

Many parents are choosing to hold property jointly with one or more children with a right of survivorship.

By Barry Corbin |September 21, 2011

3 min read

Estate Planning

Five risks to holding property jointly

Holding property jointly has long been called the “poor man’s will”—a way for a person to transfer wealth on death without spending the money to draw up proper documents.

By Barry Corbin |September 20, 2011

2 min read

Testamentary trusts can be better than joint ownership

For someone living in a jurisdiction with high probate taxes, it can be a near knee-jerk response to hold valuable property jointly with a spouse or with one or more children, with a right of survivorship.

By Barry Corbin |September 19, 2011

3 min read

Estate Planning

Is your client legally competent?

The quintessential fiduciary

Avoid sibling rivalry over jointly held property

Five risks to holding property jointly

Share wealth without the tax burden

Joint property ownership: problems and pitfalls

Testamentary trusts can be better than joint ownership

Tax consequences of owning property jointly

How to tailor insurance to affluent clients

Income splitting from beyond the grave