Same-sex marriage was banned in West Virginia until October 9, 2014. Before then, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) couples did not have the right to marry or the same legal privileges under the law as married opposite-sex couples had. When it came to WV estate planning and same-sex couples, the lack of legal rights made the management of assets in the event of one partner’s incapacitation and death very difficult.

Given the millions of Americans addicted to opiates and other drugs, many parents and grandparents struggle with the question of estate planning for addicted family members. But in a realm where families have very little control over a loved one’s actions, estate planning provides one area of control.

Charitable giving in the West Virginia (WV) estate planning process often benefits both the donor and the recipient charity. Not only does it feel good to leave a generous legacy and help others, it may also be a savvy financial decision. If you're interested in learning about options for charitable giving in WV estate plans, read on.

You may worry that someone unhappy with a bequest may challenge your will and delay the probate of your will. But using no-contest clauses to avoid conflict after your death can provide your family with the gift of peace of mind. A no-contest clause in essence disinherits any heir who challenges the will. In this way, a no-contest clause can save your estate from incurring unnecessary costs and delays in distribution.

The average life expectancy of West Virginians is 75.4 years of age. If you started working at the age of 16 and you retire at age 66, you will have worked for over two-thirds of your entire life and over 87 percent of your adult life. That is a lot of time dedicated to building your retirement savings and planning for retirement . . . and very little time left to enjoy retirement. Presumably, 50 working years or more could provide one or more nice-sized IRAs to fund your retirement as well as something to leave a beneficiary upon your death. But do you know how to fit an IRA in your WV estate plan?