Estate attorneys and financial planners typically recommend working to keep accounts and property out of probate. That said, the probate system, in some cases, can be used to your advantage.

In a financial power of attorney, you designate an agent or attorney-in-fact to act on your behalf if you become disabled or unable to manage your financial affairs. When you are selecting powers to give your agent, you should carefully consider three powers in particular.

When a spouse dies, the last thing their surviving spouse wants to worry about is estate taxes. The latest change by the IRS gives some grieving spouses more time to get advice from their estate planning attorney.