Creating a Trust is only the first step. If it isn’t properly funded, coordinated with your beneficiary designations, and reviewed regularly, it may not work as intended. Learn three common mistakes that could leave assets outside your Trust—and potentially send your family to probate court.

A loved one’s debt does not automatically become the family’s responsibility. Learn which debts must be paid by the estate, when surviving family members may be personally liable, and what heirs should do before responding to creditors or making payments.

When someone dies, an empty home can quickly become a source of stress for the family left behind. From security risks and ongoing maintenance to insurance issues and unexpected expenses, there’s much more to managing an inherited home than most people realize. Learn the steps your loved ones may need to take—and how thoughtful estate planning can make the process much easier.

Before you rely on "just a Will," learn what a Will can—and can't—do. Discover why a Will alone won't avoid probate, protect you during incapacity, or cover all of your assets, and why a comprehensive estate plan is the best way to protect your family and preserve your legacy.

Estate planning is about so much more than deciding who inherits your assets. It's about protecting the people you love, providing clear guidance during difficult times, and ensuring your wishes—not default state laws—shape your family's future. Discover why a comprehensive Life & Legacy Plan gives your loved ones the clarity and security they deserve.

Many parents delay naming guardians because they're waiting for the perfect choice. But if something happens to you, a judge could end up deciding who raises your children. This article offers a practical framework for choosing guardians, evaluating your options, and putting a plan in place to ensure your children are cared for by the people you trust most.

As Pride Month is underway, it's a great time to celebrate love, family, and the progress that has been made toward equality. But marriage equality alone doesn't provide all the legal protections LGBTQIA+ individuals and families may need. From healthcare decisions to inheritance rights, a comprehensive estate plan can help ensure your wishes are honored and your loved ones are protected. Learn how Life & Legacy Planning can provide peace of mind for the future.

Summer vacation is all about making memories, but before you pack your bags, it’s worth taking a few minutes to make sure your family is protected if the unexpected happens. From Powers of Attorney to naming guardians for your children, a few simple legal documents can provide tremendous peace of mind while you’re away. In this week’s blog, I’m sharing four important estate planning steps every parent should consider before traveling. These quick preparations can help ensure

Most parents think they've answered the guardian question. They've had the conversation, agreed on someone, and moved on. But unless that decision is legally documented, the person you trust to raise your children may have no legal authority to step in. This week, I'm sharing what really happens when parents haven't named guardians, why the first 72 hours matter, and the steps every family should take to protect their children.

One common mistake families make is putting a home in a child’s name to avoid probate or protect assets. While it may seem simple, this strategy can create major problems involving Medicaid eligibility, taxes, creditors, divorce, and loss of control over the property.

Tax season gives you a rare, complete snapshot of your financial life — your income, assets, accounts, and beneficiaries. But once the return is filed, most people move on without asking whether their estate plan still reflects their life today. Here’s why tax season is actually the perfect time to review your estate plan and make sure the people you love are truly protected.

Imagine this: something unexpected happens, and you're suddenly unable to care for your children. It's a parent's worst nightmare. In this situation, you'd want to know that your kids will be loved, cared for, and raised according to the values you hold dear. But have you taken the right legal steps to ensure that happens? Many parents mistakenly believe that simply naming guardians in their will is enough to protect their children. Unfortunately, this isn't always the case.

If you’re newly married (or about to be), estate planning should be on your to-do list. It’s not just about what happens after death—it’s about protecting your spouse if something happens to you. Without the right documents in place, your partner could face court involvement, delays, and unnecessary stress. A few key decisions now can make all the difference later

Newly married or about to tie the knot? Estate planning is one of the most important steps you can take to protect your spouse and your future. From updating beneficiary designations to creating a will or trust, putting the right plan in place now can help your loved ones avoid unnecessary stress, court involvement, and uncertainty later on.

Because estate planning involves thinking about difficult topics like death, incapacity, and aging, it’s something many people understandably put off. As a Chicago estate planning attorney working with young families, I see this all the time—and unfortunately, that delay often creates unnecessary stress, expense, and complications for the people you love most. To make matters more confusing, the rise of online estate planning platforms like LegalZoom®, Rocket Lawyer®, and Tru

Because estate planning involves actively thinking about and planning for frightening topics like death, old age, and crippling disability, many people put it off or simply ignore it all together until it’s too late. Sadly, this unwillingness to face reality often creates serious hardship, expense, and trauma for those loved ones you leave behind. To complicate matters, the recent proliferation of online estate planning document services, such as LegalZoom®, Rocket Lawyer®, a

Trusts aren't set it and forget it. Learn about the important times you should review and update your trust.

You’ve no doubt heard of a Will, a document that says what happens to your money and belongings after you die. You may even have a Will, or know you should get one. And maybe you’ve heard of a Trust and wondered what it is and how it works. You may have even done research on Google about how to do your own Will or Trust. In fact, it’s hard to poke around the internet and not find do-it-yourself (“DIY”) Wills and Trusts services. Legal Zoom, TrustandWill.com , and even some m

Last week , we covered how it works when you create a trust through your will. This week, I'll show you how a trust created during your lifetime (called a revocable living trust) functions differently, what your family experiences when you've set up a living trust, and how to decide which approach truly fits your situation. As a quick refresher, a “testamentary trust” is created in your will and only comes into existence after your estate goes through probate. As a result, yo

You've probably heard that trusts help families avoid probate court and protect assets for the people you love. Maybe you've even talked to a lawyer who mentioned including a trust in your will. It sounds like a good solution, but here's what most people don't realize: a trust created in your will works very differently from a living trust you create today, and the difference will have a major impact on your loved ones when you die. Both options use the word "trust," which ma