Inheriting property in a trust is far easier than going through probate. Q: My dad owns a duplex. He lives upstairs and rents the downstairs unit. He wants me to inherit the property after he dies. Should we transfer ownership of the property by will or by adding me to the deed? I understand all [...]
What are the options for parents lending money to kids? How can you safely lend money to your kids and not run afoul of the law? Q: I read with interest one of your older articles online about the Dodd Frank Act and whether personal loans are subject to it. I want to lend money [...]
Settling an estate, condo sale and debts. These are the issues this family is facing two years after their son's death. What would you do? Q: My single son died two years ago. He had no children. His only assets were his condominium and the money he had in his 401(k) plan. His condo is [...]
"Who can help me plan for my financial future?" is the question of the week. Building a home-buying team will help you buy the right house, whether you're a first-time buyer or trading up into a larger home. Building your financial future requires more. Q: Who can help me plan for my financial future, including [...]
How much does it cost to own a house? Inheriting a house that you haven't lived in may mean you'll face unknown expenses. What else can you do? Q: My widowed sister owns a modest home in DuPage County, Illinois. It’s entirely paid off. Her intent is to leave her house to me–she has no [...]
Is there a tax on cash? What about a cash inheritance? How do I understand what tax my father-in-law owes on his cash? Q: My wife's father is close to death and he has moved all of his investments into his bank in the form of cash. He said that was done to help my [...]
What if I have no heirs? A reader doesn't love his family enough to leave them his assets. Now what? Q: What choices are there for a person with no immediate heirs, who doesn't want the house and other assets to go to the cousins? Who or what can inherit? What happens if a person [...]
As we move into Year 3 of the Pandemic, America's personal finances seem to have improved. With that in mind, we offer some Money and Credit Resolutions for 2022. Sign up for Ilyce Glink's Love, Money + Real Estate newsletter for access to more stories like these. Here’s a guess: there aren’t many of us [...]
Should I set up a trust or use a transfer-on-death (TOD) deed or instrument? That's what one of Ilyce's readers wrote in to ask how she should manage her estate. To read more Q&A like this one, sign up for Ilyce Glink's Love, Money + Real Estate newsletter. Should I set up a trust? Q: [...]
Should parents split an inheritance equally? Not always. There are many reasons why you might not want to treat all children equally. Read more: Sign up for my Love, Money + Real Estate newsletter. Should parents split an inheritance equally? One of our readers sent in this question: Q: My mom is in her 90s, [...]
