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A lot of bankruptcy attorneys advise against filing jointly whenever possible. Doing so shields your spouse’s credit score and can help you re-establish credit by letting your spouse co-sign on new debts.

If you’ve been researching the pros and cons of bankruptcy, you've likely come across the con of how bankruptcy can impact your credit score. Your credit score is a measure of your financial health and ability to manage debt, so understandably, bankruptcy can have a significant impact on it. But exactly how long does bankruptcy stay on your credit report?

Creating a well-detailed estate plan is essential to leave assets for your surviving loved ones and provide instructions concerning how your final affairs should be handled when you’re gone.

Similar to a last will and testament, a trust can designate beneficiaries to receive your assets when you’re gone, but it has several additional benefits. For one, a trust avoids probate court proceedings -- it is private -- by eliminating public hearings or public records. Also, trusts have the flexibility of safeguarding assets when you do not feel confident the child will make wise money decisions.

Losing someone close to you is extremely difficult and overwhelming. It's even more stressful when you receive constant calls from creditors regarding the decedent's unpaid debts. Unfortunately, debts are not automatically wiped out when a person dies. With several post-death activities to handle, you may be confused about how to manage your loved one's debts following their passing.

Creating a will can seem like a huge task, which is probably why so many people put it off until they are old or seriously ill. Every adult should have at least a basic will. If you have one, you are ahead of approximately two-thirds of American adults.

In order to create a valid will in California, the testator must have testamentary capacity. In addition, the person must be able to identify their assets and property and know their relationship with potential beneficiaries and heirs. However, different challenges usually arise when a loved one in the early stages of dementia or cognitive impairment wants to create a will or estate plan. Hence, it is crucial to ensure that the person is mentally competent to get their estate plan in place.

If you’re on your second marriage, or about to enter into one, your estate planning can get more complicated, especially if there are children from the previous marriage and stepchildren or new children from your second marriage. The best approach is to iron out everything with your intended spouse before marriage and then create a prenuptial agreement.

We understand how difficult it is when loved ones pass away. Not only do you have to process the loss emotionally, but you also need to figure out what to do legally. At the Law Office of Robert L. Firth, our team is here to help. You don’t have to go through this complex process alone.

Thinking about estate planning can be a stressful experience for many people, so it’s no wonder that folks may want to seek out quicker or cheaper ways to do this online.