Park, Lucy and Mohammed, Furqan, Where There’s a Will, There’s a Way: How to Draft a State- and Sharia-Compliant Will, Chicago Bar Association Report (Sept. 2015), available at: https://user-35215390377.cld.bz/CBA-Report#38.

Summary: This article, co-authored by one of Islamic Wills USA’s founders, discusses the basics of Islamic estate planning and the creation of trusts that complies with Islamic and US law.  A growing segment of the US population is seeking attorneys who can provide legal services that do not run afoul of the clients’ religious preferences.

Cross, Miriam, Family Finances: Even Millennials Need an Estate Plan (October 9, 2018), Chicago Tribune, available at: https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/sns-201809201206–tms–kplngmpctnkm-a20181009-20181009-story.html.

Summary: Everyone needs an estate plan, regardless of age.  This includes, at a minimum, a will, a property power of attorney and an advance medical directive, which defines your end-of-life wishes concerning life support.  A unique consideration also likely comes into play with a millennial’s estate plan: what will happen to the client’s “digital assets” upon death?  This includes, for example, the client’s Facebook and Google accounts.  Although you may be able to designate trustees through your respective accounts, an attorney will be able to guide you through these important considerations.

Savage, Terry, Estate Planning: A Concern for Everyone (August 21, 2018), Chicago Tribune, available at: https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/sns-201808211702–tms–savagectnts-a20180821-20180821-column.html.

Summary: Terry Savage, a highly regarded investment advisor, notes that estate planning “must be done by an attorney [licensed] in your state of residence…Forget the online documents and do-it-yourself kits in an attempt to make money.”    Ms. Savage then discusses the pros and cons of wills, revocable living trusts, and some of the considerations a prospective client should have in creating their estate plan.

Mears, Teresa, 10 Essential Estate Planning Tips Everyone Should Know (July 14, 2017), U.S. News & World Report, available at: https://money.usnews.com/money/personal-finance/family-finance/articles/2017-07-14/10-essential-estate-planning-tips-everyone-should-know.

Summary: Even some basic estate planning can prevent fairly complex problems that could arise later in life, such as the death of both parents in a car accident.  The author provides ten essential elements for estate plans.

Verde, Tom, Retirement Savings, the Muslim Way, New York Times Company (June 27, 2017), available at: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/30/your-money/retirement-savings-the-muslim-way.html.

Summary: Muslims in the US and abroad are increasingly seeking investment vehicles that comply with Islamic finance principles, such as the prohibition on riba’a (interest on loans) and investments that deal in forbidden goods, such as alcohol, tobacco, and pork products.  Islamic estate planning often goes hand-in-hand with Islamic financial planning.  Please call one of the attorneys at Islamic Wills USA if you have questions about the overlap between Sharia-compliant estate planning and financial investing.

Learnvest Planning Services, Estate Planning: Your Need-To-Know, Forbes (May 24, 2013), available at: https://www.forbes.com/sites/learnvest/2013/05/24/estate-planning-your-need-to-know/#7d2fb6174048.

Summary: Estate planning does not apply only to wealthy individuals.  Unfortunately, nearly 55% of Americans do not have a basic will, leaving them vulnerable to costly court fees and legal battles.  To determine what estate plan is best for a particular client, the author recommended finding an attorney who specializes in estate planning.