Estate Planning for Pets: Ensuring Your Beloved Companion is Safe After You Are Gone
Very so often, a headline grabs everyone’s attention—not because of its scandal or controversy, but because it taps into something deeply human. Not long ago, reports surfaced that the late Diane Keaton arranged a $5 million provision for the ongoing care of her golden retriever, Reggie. The story drew mixed…
When Should You Talk to Your Parents About Estate Planning?
Your father’s best friend recently passed away unexpectedly. Their family assumed his final wishes were in order, but it turned out he had never created an estate plan—not even a basic Will. Without a plan in place, his estate was caught up in years of probate, and everything had to…
Hire An Attorney: 9 Reasons Why You Should Not Represent Yourself in Court
When many people are facing a significant legal issue, their first thought is to find skilled representation immediately. After all, why in the world would you choose not to hire an attorney? Their job is to represent you in court (assuming that going to court is necessary), protect your legal…
June Is Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month: Here’s Why It Matters to Your Estate Planning
Every June, our nation observes Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month. And with good reason— more than 55 million people worldwide are living with Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia, and two-thirds of Americans have at least one major potential risk factor for dementia. These numbers are not just sobering—they are…
What Makes a Legally Valid Will?
None of us knows when we will pass away or be placed in a position where we cannot make important decisions for ourselves. This is why we harp on the importance of estate planning and, at a minimum, having a legally valid Will to spell out how you wish to…
What Does It Mean To Fund a Trust?
You thought you had everything squared away. You spent months working with an estate planning attorney to create a trust, felt a wave of relief when it was finally signed, and then tucked it away safely in a secure drawer at your house. A year later, during a routine financial…
4 Common Ways To Avoid Probate
Many families consider probate a time-consuming, emotional, and costly legal process. To make matters worse in their eyes, they genuinely believe it is unavoidable. In other words, facing it head-on after the death of a loved one is the only way. While it is true that it is often necessary…
6 Estate Planning Tips for Blended Families
Blended families are beautifully unique. For instance, yours could involve you and your spouse bringing children from previous marriages for a new life together. Meanwhile, someone else’s blended situation may involve one spouse who is new to parenting, or maybe instead of having young kids from a previous relationship, those…
5 Common Causes of Estate Planning Disputes
Estate planning is one of the most important things you can do for your family, and the process often goes off without a hitch. That said, even something as selfless as estate planning is not without its share of issues from time to time. Disputes over estates and inheritances can…
5 Estate Planning Tips for Unmarried Couples
Jack and Faith could not be happier. Sure, they never officially married like their friends did, but they have lived together monogamously for the past 12 years and act like a married couple in every possible way. In fact, they recently began discussing estate planning and the importance of having…