Your mom told you not to worry; she  had everything handled. You were her power of attorney, helping her pay bills and manage her accounts. When she passed away, you assumed you'd simply continue handling things the same way you had been. Then you tried to deposit the insurance check. The bank clerk looked at the check, looked at your power of attorney paperwork, and shook her head. "I'm sorry, but we can't accept this. You'll need to go through the probate court first." Sudd

One of our primary goals is to educate you on the vital importance of not only preparing an estate plan, but also keeping your plan up-to-date. While you almost surely understand the importance of creating an estate plan, you may not know that keeping your plan current is every bit as important as creating a plan to begin with. In fact, outside of not creating any estate plan at all, outdated estate plans are one of the most common estate planning mistakes we encounter. We’ll

When you begin thinking about estate planning, one of the first questions you might ask is whether you need a will, a trust, or both. You may have heard conflicting information from friends, social media, or TV experts, which can make the decision feel confusing. And while both wills and trusts can play an important role in your estate plan, the real question is not which document you should choose, but how to create a plan that actually works when your loved ones need it to.

When it comes to putting off or refusing to create an estate plan, your mind can concoct all sorts of rationalizations: “I won’t care because I’ll be dead,” “I’m too young,” “That won’t happen to me,” or “My family will know what to do.” But these thoughts all come from a mix of pride, denial, and above all, a lack of real education about estate planning and the consequences to your family of not planning. Once you understand exactly how planning is designed to work and what

As the holidays approach, families gather to share food, laughter, and stories. But amid the joy, there is often an unspoken truth: many families avoid the conversations that matter most. What will happen when you are gone? How will your loved ones be cared for? What legacy will you leave behind? This season offers a rare opportunity to bring love, not fear, into these important conversations. In this article, you will learn how to shift your mindset about death and money, ho

When it comes to planning for your family's future, the options can feel overwhelming. Should you get a will? Create a trust? And what happens if you do nothing at all? These aren't just academic questions - your choices today will impact your loved ones tomorrow. In this second installment of a two-part Q & A series , I’ll break down the key differences between your primary estate planning options and explore practical ways to ensure your family is protected, no matter what

When it comes to estate planning, I get many questions about many topics. One of the most common questions I hear concerns account ownership and asset management. Understanding how accounts are titled and who has access to them isn't just about convenience—it's about ensuring your assets transfer smoothly to your loved ones while protecting them from potential risks.  In this first installment of a two-part series, I’ll answer the most common questions about asset ownership a

Wills and trusts are two of the most commonly used estate planning documents, and they form the foundation of most estate plans. While both documents are legal vehicles designed to distribute your assets to your loved ones upon your death, the way in which they work is quite different. From when they take effect and the property they cover to how they are administered, wills and trusts have some key differences that you need to consider when creating your estate plan. That sa

Getting married and starting a new chapter in your life is an exciting time. It’s also a time that requires a lot of housekeeping such as updating your address if your marriage includes a move, changing your tax filing status with your employer, and adding your new spouse to your bank and credit card accounts.  But did you know that creating (or updating) your estate plan should also be on your post-wedding to-do list?  Last week we started to explore the key estate planning

Wedding season is winding down, and if you are a newlywed or are planning to tie the knot soon, it’s time to make your first legal move as a married couple – creating an estate plan. With all the joy and happiness a new marriage brings, planning for your potential incapacity and future death may feel out of place, but creating your estate plan as part of your post-nuptial to-do list is the greatest gift you can give your new spouse. A lot changes once your marriage is officia

You’ve built a life with someone you love - sharing a home, experiences, and maybe even finances - but without legal marriage, the law doesn’t automatically recognize your relationship. That means if something happens to you, your partner could be left without legal rights to your property, finances, or even decisions about your medical care. In this article, you’ll learn why unmarried couples face greater legal risks, what key planning steps you can take to protect each othe

October 20–26, 2025, is Estate Planning Awareness Week - a national observance created to encourage Americans to think about what will happen to their loved ones and their assets after they die. For many people, the term estate planning brings to mind stacks of legal documents, a will, a trust, a healthcare directive, or powers of attorney. But estate planning isn’t just about creating documents. It’s about making sure the people you love are protected and supported when they

As we prepare for National Estate Planning Awareness Week, now is a great time to shed light on this often misunderstood and frequently...

Name legal guardians to ensure your children are protected.

Don't make these mistakes with your estate plan.

Unless you’ve created an estate plan that works to keep your family out of court, when you die (or become incapacitated) many of your...

Unless you’ve created a proper estate plan, when you die many of your assets must first pass through the court process known as probate...

If you have minor children, don't skip this important estate planning step.

You hired a lawyer, signed your estate planning documents, and filed them safely away. Or maybe your financial advisor created your...

Don't send your kids back to school without these crucial forms