Jan 03, 2023 08:47 PM IST

Who is an executor of a will?

Seven tips for friction-free succession planning

When you nominate a successor, it will help the nominee receive your assets in a hassle-free manner without having to go to the courts to obtain a succession certificate or a probate of the will.

How to write wills that are easier to execute and minimises chances of disputes

To avoid any chances of a dispute, one should as far as possible bequeath a particular asset to the named nominee.

Why a nominee should never be an ultimate beneficiary

There is a demand among a section of experts that a nominee of a financial asset must be made the legal heir. While nomination is crucial for a smooth flow of assets to the legal heir, equating nominations with succession is disastrous.

Tech-enabling of estate planning – need of the hour

Today, where technology has practically transformed almost all businesses, estate planning and legal services can’t be far behind. We need to impress upon and push our policy makers to introduce the right laws and amendments to embrace these technologies, eventually making it convenient for all stakeholders.

Gift deed or Will: What’s the best way to pass on your assets to a loved one?

For the bequest of their wealth (assets/ properties) to their chosen heirs, asset owners can opt for either a will or a gift deed.

Writing a Will? Here’s how you should choose the executor

The executor's key responsibility is to gather details of all the assets that are mentioned in the estate, protect these assets and distribute them to beneficiaries as per the instructions in the Will

Why writing a Will is critically important for women

It is easy to draft a Will and it remains one of the most powerful tools when it comes to succession planning

Want to pass on values in addition to wealth? Write an ethical Will

An ethical Will is a special kind of legacy letter that aims to pass on guiding principles, memories, spiritual beliefs, and wishes for your family’s future

Living Will: Your right to stop medical treatment and have a dignified death

In 2018, the Supreme Court accepted the concept of Living Wills and held that the right to die with dignity is a fundamental right under the contours of the Indian constitution

Ex-ICICI Bank boss KV Kamath feels every individual must make a will today!

Many of us hesitate in drafting a Will and making nominations. But the onset of Covid-19 has shown that life is uncertain. Inaugurating an initiative of the Association of Registered Investment Advisers (ARIA) to help stranded people cope with succession planning upon losing their loved ones to Covid-19, KV Kamath shared his views on the importance of timely planning your will. - He stressed upon the need to make nominations in our existing as well as new investments - Kamath also stressed upon the need to have standardisation of forms and processes required in succession planning Who is KV Kamath? KV Kamath was the former Managing Director and CEO of ICICI Bank and then its Chairman from 2009-15. He was also the Chairman of Infosys between 2011 and 2015. He came back to India last year from Shanghai where he served close to five years as the chief of the New Development Bank of BRICS countries.

5 key financial documents that you should keep your family informed about

A well-kept inventory of your financial assets helps in smooth succession planning. It also prevents leakage, later

Nine key financial details about you that your family should know

It is important to keep a record of your finances and your key advisors around you. In case of any unfortunate eventuality, your assets can be passed on smoothly to loved ones

Should you write a Will yourself without taking professional help?

While a DIY approach may help save some costs, one should adopt this route only when one is sure that their situation is pretty straight forward and would not put the beneficiaries of the Will to any inconvenience

How to write a foolproof Will to pass on your assets smoothly

COVID-19 and its death trail have highlighted the importance of Will more than ever before. Partition of assets when a deceased has not left a Will behind, can be acrimonious

Explained: All about various Wills for smooth wealth transmission

Writing a Will is an extremely important activity, and it is highly advisable to take proper guidance from an experienced professional

Will or Trust? The key choice to make in estate planning

A good estate plan not only addresses your current needs, but also assesses all possible tools considering your unique circumstances

Why writing a Will is not a one-time exercise

You should keep reviewing your Will periodically. It must factor situations such as birth, death, marriage of a family member, purchase of new assets and legislative changes

Estate planning: A necessity at all life stages and for income levels

In the absence of a Will, intestacy laws will ascertain how your assets are passed on, which may go against the interests of your loved ones

How separating couples must fix their money matters after divorce

Spouses must plan for paying alimony. Those who receive a sudden gush of cash settlement must wait and invest the amount carefully.

Starting your career amidst COVID-19? Here's how you must plan your money matters

Millennials have witnessed their parents losing jobs or taking pay cuts. They have consequently woken up to the fact that traditional methods of financial planning may not provide an adequate buffer

Jointly-held accounts, investments may not be evenly split when couples seperate

Marriages can break-up despite years of togetherness, like Bill and Melinda Gates'. Maintaining separate bank accounts and investments, with proper nomination help in untangling assets.

How to make a solid estate plan during these pandemic times

If you do not have an estate plan in place, the distribution of your assets would done according to the government’s intestate succession laws

Lost loved ones to COVID-19? Here’s how you can track their assets and investments

Checking bank account entries, mutual fund and insurance statements of the deceased can give an idea of their assets and liabilities

Where crorepatis go wrong: Delay succession planning due to fear of losing control

While the rich get their investing and spending habits spot on, they tend to go slow on transferring their assets.