MSU Extension, AARP Montana present webinar series on estate planning

MSU News Service

BOZEMAN — Montana State University Extension collaborated with AARP Montana for a three-part webinar estate planning series.

The series, titled Tuesday Tips, was presented by Marsha Goetting, MSU Extension family economics specialist and professor at MSU.

Goetting said that, for some Montanans, estate planning can be one of the most important and confusing decisions they make in their lives. It raises questions of personal legacy and how to assure the right people receive one’s property after death.

Over the past seven years Goetting has presented more than 500 educational sessions that have reached more than 15,000 Montanans with financial and estate planning information. She has received state, regional and national awards for her programs and has authored 44 MontGuide fact sheets that cover estate planning topics.

Topics for the webinars follow:

• Sept. 15 – “Surprise! Montana Law Determines Who Receives Your Property Upon Death … Even if You Have a Will! Yes, Really!” – When property titles, Montana’s Law of Interstate Succession and a written will are combined, there can be surprises. Goetting will discuss how wording on accounts, titles or deeds is important and determines who receives them upon the owner’s death. Watch the replay here >>
• Sept. 22 – “Estate Planning Designations that Avoid Probate” – Some Montanans may be unaware of tools made available by the Montana Legislature that allow individuals to avoid probate on assets after dying. Goetting will cover payable-on-death accounts, on financial accounts, and transfer-on-death designations, on stocks, bonds, and mutual funds and transfer-on-death deeds for real property that allow Montanans to have their assets pass to the people they choose. Watch the replay here >>
• Sept. 29 – “The Sometime ‘Curse’ of Joint Tenancy with Right of Survivorship Titles, Plus Powers of Attorney” – What are some of the potential consequences of holding property in joint tenancy with family members and others when an individual writes a will? Goetting will examine facts surrounding joint tenancy ownership, as well as talk about Montana’s financial and health care powers of attorney. Watch the replay here >>

Contact: Marsha Goetting, MSU Extension family economics specialist, goetting@montana.edu