The idea of one-size-fits-all no longer fits a world where people expect products and services tobe tailored to their individual preferences.The estate planning world, long rooted in tradition, has relied on time-tested tools such as truststo plan for what happens to a person’s money and property. However, a nontraditional variationknown as a directed trust has […]

Congratulations! You are now legally an adult. Although you may not feel any different, from alegal standpoint, a great deal has changed.When you were a minor (under age 18), your parents were your legal guardians responsible formaking all your decisions. Now that you are an adult, their legal authority over you is limited, ifnot completely […]

Americans are, quite literally, getting buried in debt, with nearly half expecting to pass away withoutstanding debts. 1As a general rule, a person’s debts do not go away when they die. Some types of debt, such asfederal student loans, are typically forgiven upon the debtor’s death, but private loans andcosigned accounts may still be owed […]

Estate planning often feels complex, leading many people to rely on assumptions that can havedevastating consequences for their loved ones and their legacy. From who can make decisionsfor you to whether you need an estate plan, common myths can stand between you and asecure future. Let’s debunk these widespread misconceptions and reveal four essential truthsabout […]

You found the love of your life, and as you have built your life together, you have likelyweathered your fair share of storms and grown stronger because of them. Now that you aremarried, you are uniquely situated to provide meaningful support for your spouse after yourpassing through special estate planning tools available only to legally […]

Now is the perfect time to start working on an estate plan. As newlyweds, you are likely in theprocess of deciding which of your accounts and property (your assets) to combine and how toturn two households into one. You may also be setting up new bank accounts and creating aplan for paying shared bills and […]

When thinking through their estate plan and how they want their assets (money andproperty) managed after they pass away, most parents wish to treat their children equally,often out of a sense of fairness. However, sometimes being fair or doing what is right byyour children may mean giving unequal inheritances.The Key Takeaways● Treating children fairly does […]

What is in a name?If you are a beneficiary or a creditor of an estate, or if you are setting up an estate plan, yourname means a great deal.It is not unusual for a person to go by different names, such as the name we are given at birthand the names we choose for ourselves. […]

Many people believe that a simple will is all they need to accomplish their goals for the future.However, a flawed estate plan can create just as many headaches, heartaches, and expensesfor your loved ones as having no plan. Life changes, laws evolve, and even the best intentionscan fall short, leaving family members facing court battles, […]

Congratulations on your new baby! Becoming a parent is an incredible journey filled with joy,love, and a whole lot of sleepless nights. It is also a time when you start thinking about thefuture in an entirely new way. You want to ensure that your child is always protected, no matterwhat. While legal documents are the […]

Yes, everyone needs a will, a trust, or both. These important tools ensure that your legacy willbe carried out according to your wishes and allow you to provide for loved ones after yourpassing. A properly prepared trust can also help avoid probate, which is a lengthy, public, andoften expensive court process that becomes necessary when […]

Most people think of probate (the process of collecting, managing, and distributing a deceasedperson’s money and property) as a private process. However, because probate involves the courtsystem, most filings become a matter of public record. That means your nosy neighbor (let’s call her“Nellie”) can simply go to the courthouse or hop online to learn all […]

Your home is likely one of the most valuable assets you own, if not the most valuable.Calling it an asset can sound cold. A home is far more than an assortment of materials andpossessions. It is also a place to live, gather, create life stories, and share memories.However, in the eyes of the law, your […]

Disinheritance—the intentional exclusion of a family member, usually a child or spouse, from receiving part of your estate after your death—is more common than you might think. It is also easier than you might think to disinherit a loved one, with a couple of notable exceptions. However, it is not as simple as omitting someone’s […]

As the federal estate tax exemption has ballooned from $5 million in 2011 to $13.99 milliontoday, the need for estate tax planning has drastically decreased. However, with a top marginalincome tax rate of 37 percent, the focus of estate planning has shifted to a new frontier: incometax basis planning.The Basics of Income Tax Basis In […]

Getting married is a special time in your life; you may have a beautiful wedding, a fun reception(with a delicious cake and special gifts), and a romantic honeymoon. It is also the right time foryou and your new spouse to plan for your future—for richer or for poorer, in sickness or inhealth. Why You and […]

It is a topic no parent wants to think about: What would happen to your children if you weregone? However, facing this question is one of the most loving and powerful things you can dofor your kids. If you take no steps to legally nominate a guardian for your minor children, a judgewho does not […]

You have just received your orders, and you will be deployed shortly. No matter how soon youare leaving, there is still time to ensure that your affairs are in order. While both a will and a trust play an important role in securing your loved ones’ financialfuture, there are other estate planning tools that need […]

Will you be donating to charities this year? The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) reminds us thatyou must itemize deductions on Schedule A of your tax return to claim a deduction for charitablegifts. The following five tips can also help ensure that your charitable gifts count. Tip #1: Give to a qualified charity. Only gifts to […]

You have likely been preparing for weeks to get your new college student off to school. It is exhilarating, and your heart may be bursting at the seams. You are probably prouder than words can express but also afraid. How can you ensure your child is safe at their new home away from home? A […]

You regularly check the balances of your retirement, bank, and investment accounts. But when was the last time you checked the beneficiary designations on these accounts (and really, all the other accounts that allow you to name a beneficiary)?  It may have been years since you first opened an individual retirement account, bought a life […]

A special needs trust (SNT) allows an individual to provide for a disabled beneficiary without jeopardizing the beneficiary’s eligibility for needs-based government benefits.  SNT funds can generally be used to pay for almost anything that falls outside the basic support that programs such as Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Medicaid provide. This includes many goods, […]

Getting ready to embark on your next great adventure? Before you zip up the last suitcase, here are five issues you need to address to protect yourself and your loved ones. Do you have a foundational estate plan? Has it been reviewed? An estate plan is a set of instructions memorialized in legal documents that […]

As we all know, life happens. There is really nothing we can do about it. However, some of the most common life events can have a dramatic effect on your estate plan. If you think your estate plan is like a slow cooker and you can set it and forget it, you and your loved […]

Thank you for all that you do for us. We understand that being the first one on the scene can come with many different risks. We are dedicated to protecting you and your loved ones from the different types of emergencies that may pop up during your life. The following are some important questions for […]

In estate planning circles, the word “probate” often carries a negative connotation. Indeed, for many people—especially those with valuable accounts and property—financial planners recommend trying to keep accounts and property out of probate whenever possible. That being said, the probate system was ultimately established to protect the deceased’s accounts and property as well as their […]

One would assume that celebrities with extreme wealth would take steps to protect their estates. But think again: some of the world’s richest and most famous people enter the pearly gates with no estate plan, while others have made estate planning mistakes that tied up their fortunes and heirs in court for years. Let us […]

Although your death is probably a long way off, it is important that you have a plan to ensure that your affairs are settled in the way that you want. An estate plan crafted by an experienced estate planning attorney is a legally enforceable set of documents that allows you to name who will have […]

Welcoming a child into the family is a major milestone in every parent’s life, especially if you have utilized assisted reproductive technology (ART). With this blessing comes the need for comprehensive financial and estate plans that are uniquely tailored to your family’s needs. As you continue your journey, we want to provide you with answers […]

If your life or the law has changed since you signed your last will and testament (will) or trust agreement, you need to update your document. You can make updates to a revocable living trust by way of an amendment or a complete restatement of the trust agreement. An amendment updates a specific part of […]