Protecting Your Family's Safety Net: How to Set Up Your Life Insurance Policy The Right Way
Life insurance is an important part of protecting your family, but if you don’t set it up the right way, there’s a good chance it won’t help your loved ones the way you want it to. Here’s what to do instead…
View Article
What Caregivers Need to Know About Estate Planning for a Loved One With Dementia - Part 2
This week we continue our discussion on estate planning for a loved one with dementia and how planning must become more proactive and strategic than ever to avoid conflict over your loved one’s wishes in the future. Read more…
View Article
What Caregivers Need to Know About Estate Planning for a Loved One With Dementia - Part 1
In this blog, we'll explore the importance of estate planning, even after a dementia diagnosis, as the best method to ensure the wishes and rights of your loved one are protected. Read more…
View Article
Holding Space for Grief: Ways to Comfort and Support A Loved One in Mourning
Losing a loved one is an incredibly challenging experience, and the journey through grief can be both complex and overwhelming. In this blog, we explore practical and heartfelt ways to hold space for your loved ones who are mourning. Read more…
View Article
Creating A Kids Protection Plan
As we welcome the New Year, filled with hope and resolutions for a brighter future, one commitment should be at the top of your list– creating a Kids Protection Plan™. Read more...
View Article
Why "Just a Will" Is Never Enough
When you think of estate planning, a Will is usually the first thing that comes to mind. In fact, most people who contact the office initially say they don’t need anything complicated for their estate- just a Will. Indeed, Wills have a reputation as the number one estate planning tool and can be seen all over TV shows and movies, from the dramatic “reading of the Will” (which rarely happens in real life) to characters plotting how best to defraud their billionaire uncle’s Will in order to inherit his lavish estate.
View Article
Leaving Your Pet in Your Will Won’t Protect Them - Do This Instead
If you’re a pet owner, you know the special bond that exists between you and your pets, and to many pet owners, our furry friends aren’t just a pet - they’re a loved and important part of our families. So if you’re thinking about how best to provide for your family after you die or if you become incapacitated, it makes sense for your beloved pet to be a part of the plan. You want your pet to continue to have the kind of love and care you provided during your life, but estate planning for furry friends requires a little more thought than you might expect.
View Article
What is the Difference Between a Will and a Trust?
Confused about the differences between a will and a trust? If so, you are not alone. While it is always wise to contact an estate planning attorney, it is also important to understand the basics. Here is a quick and simple reference guide:
View Article
Why Singles Should Worry about Estate Planning
As a single individual, you may feel overwhelmed when you think about who will step in and make decisions for you if you cannot make decisions for yourself and who will receive your money and property when you die.
View Article
Wills, Trusts & Dying Intestate: How They Differ
Most people understand that having some sort of an estate plan is a good thing. However, many of us do not take the first steps to get that estate plan in place because we do not understand the nuances between a will and trust – and dying without either. Here is what will generally happen if you die, intestate(without a will or trust), with a will, and with a revocable living trust(hereinafter trust).
View Article
5 Common Estate Planning Concerns for your Second (or more) Marriage
With divorce occurring in roughly 50% of all marriages in the U.S. and life expectancy increasing every day, second—and even third—marriages are becoming quite common. And when people get remarried in mid-life and beyond, they often bring children from prior marriages into the mix. Such unions are often referred to as a “blended” family or a “Brady Bunch” family.But blended families can also take other forms. Whether you have stepchildren, adopted children, children from a previous relationship, or you have someone you consider “kin,” even though that individual might not be classified as your legal relative in the eyes of the law, these are also examples of a blended family.Whenever you merge two families into one, you are naturally going to encounter some challenges and conflict. To this end, blended families present a number of particularly challenging legal and financial issues from an estate planning perspective. Indeed, though all families should have an estate plan, planning is absolutely essential for those with blended families.
View Article
Stephen “tWitch” Boss Dies Without a Will
Stephen Laurel Boss, also known as “tWitch,” was an American DJ, hip-hop dancer, choreographer, television producer, and actor whose personality lit up the stage on So You Think You Can Dance and as a producer and frequent guest host on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. Boss also co-hosted the TV show Disney’s Fairy Tale Weddings alongside his wife and fellow dancer, Allison Holkers. Boss and Holkers shared a seemingly extremely happy life together in Los Angeles, California where they were raising their three children, ages 3, 7, and 14. Sadly, on December 13, 2022, Boss died by suicide at the age of 40.
View Article
Have You Chosen the Right Trustee?
Whether you are reviewing your existing trust or creating a new trust, you should understand the important role that a trustee plays not only in handling trust matters but also in providing for and protecting your loved ones.
View Article
4 Common Mistakes Made On Life Insurance Beneficiary Designations
Investing in life insurance is a foundational part of estate planning, and when done right it’s a primary way to say “I love you” to your loved ones after you are gone. However, when naming your policy’s beneficiaries, several mistakes can lead to potentially dire consequences for the people you’re investing to protect and support. The following four mistakes are among the most common we see clients make when selecting life insurance beneficiaries.
View Article