Insights

Starbucks was recently hit with two major class-action lawsuits claiming it repeatedly violated the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). The lawsuits allege that Starbucks obtained background reports on thousands of job applicants which contained inaccurate information, then failed to give those applicants an opportunity to review or correct those errors before denying employment.

In many ways, wills and trusts are not all that different. Both are legal documents that can be used to direct what happens to your money and property when you die. However, a trust can do much more than a will. For example, special needs trusts can be used to preserve money that will supplement the needs of a disabled family member without making that person ineligible for public benefits.

Many people have a will that directs who is supposed to get their property when they die, but very few people are familiar with the process. Contrary to popular belief, the person you name in your will to administer your estate (called a personal representative) cannot automatically access your accounts or start distributing property. He or she must first start a probate.