Daniel E. DeKoter

Being a landlord comes with a lot of risks because of the possibility of delinquent tenants who intentionally or unintentionally fall short in meeting what is required of them. Conversely, some landlords fail to effectively carry out their responsibilities, such as maintenance and repairs, making life difficult for tenants. Image source: flcrelitblog.shutts.com Because of this, disputes may arise between landlord and tenants. Some of these conflicts escalate to the point that mediation, or even litigation, is needed to settle arguments. There are ways to minimize the possibility of disputes, such as the following:   Have a written lease agreement, and gain a full understanding of it . Before signing, both parties must ensure that they know everything they are agreeing to. For landlords, they must make sure that no stones are unturned in the contract clauses and that the tenants understand everything they are complying with. Tenants, on the other hand, ne...

It’s not just the billionaires who have an estate. In fact, almost everyone has an estate. An estate is made up of everything a person owns. This includes the car, home, bank accounts, life insurance, and other personal possessions. This is why estate planning is important for everyone. Image source: 3age.com.my Everyone has an estate plan—one given them by the state of residence, or one that is selected by the person. Those who die without selecting their own estate plan will have their assets distributed according to the probate laws of the state where they lived. This means that one’s family members (e.g., spouse and children) might only receive a fraction of the estate. The court will also be the one to control the inheritance of minor children. In the case when both parents die, the court will appoint a guardian to handle the living heirs’ inheritance. By creating your own estate plan, you are in charge of where your property goes when you die; who manages...