The death care industry — yep, it’s got its own industry moniker — is an estimated $20 billion business.  Service Corporation International, a publicly traded company that operates 1,475 funeral homes and 483 cemeteries in 44 states, pulled in more than $3.2 billion in revenue in the past 12 months.

One of the biggest challenges for anyone administering an estate is how to distribute what are called its tangible items. Unlike other property which can be easily sold, turned into cash and divided equally, tangible property is unique and often can’t be equally split. Its value also often can’t be measured by what it could be sold for. A family photo album may have no monetary value, for instance, but great sentimental significance.

Anderson Cooper’s newborn son Wyatt started life with every material advantage and a lot of big questions. Call it the Vanderbilt Curse.

Too many people mistakenly believe that to have a need for estate planning, you must be old and wealthy. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Once you are a mature adult, independent, and income-producing, it is time to assume the responsibilities of preparing for your future. High on the list is preparing an estate plan with a clear understanding that your plan will be revised to adapt to changing circumstances.

When the Spanish painter Pablo Picasso died of a heart attack on April 8, 1973, he left behind not only a huge artistic oeuvre of 50,000 works, but enough family drama to cover several generations.

For most Americans, Social Security plays an important role in maintaining retirement security. The benefit payments represent an income stream that is free of default, investment, inflation and longevity (outliving your money) risks.

More and more often, estate beneficiaries are retaining their own attorneys to make sure that the executor properly administers the estate.