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when to update an estate plan

Estate Plans Age Too: How to Keep Yours Fresh and Effective

Your estate plan is one of the most important sets of legal tools you will ever create. An estate plan is designed to protect you, your loved ones, and your money and property. It can minimize taxes and fees and ensure that your loved ones are taken… Read More
siblings lying on a blanket outdoors laughing

Do It Now: Name a Guardian for Your Minor Children

It is a topic no parent wants to think about: What would happen to your children if you were gone? However, facing this question is one of the most loving and powerful things you can do for your kids. If you take no steps to legally nominate a guardi… Read More
Red Wooden Blocks with letters that spell LEGACY in yellow, in front of an open laptop with a sticky note on it

Treating Children Fairly Does Not Necessarily Mean Equally

Parents generally try to treat all their children fairly. We often assume that fairness means leaving an equal inheritance to each child. However, “fair” does not always mean “equal.” A thoughtful estate plan considers each child’s unique c… Read More
Estate Planning Word Cloud

Wondering Whether You Need to Update Your Estate Plan?

You Do. Here Is Why. Since creating your estate plan, have you thought about updating it? If you are like most people, probably not. However, the carefully thought-out plan you created years ago may not meet your current goals or family circumstances… Read More
new born baby gripping parent's thumbs tightly

Five Things Every New Parent Needs to Know About Wills

Congratulations on your family! 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 the future in an entirely new way. You want to ensure that your chi… Read More
Joint Tenancy Agreement being signed

Parental Warning: If You Own Your Property This Way, You May Accidentally Disinherit Your Own Children

Do you own your home, other property, or a financial account with someone else, such as a spouse or an adult child? If so, you might be surprised to learn that a common way of owning property could cause problems for your loved ones in the future. Jo… Read More
Silhouettes of soldiers in front of a sunset with the US Flag watermarked in the background representing estate planning for veterans

Mission Accomplished: Your Guide to Veterans’ Planning Essentials

Joining the military often sets individuals on a path that is distinctly different from pursuing higher education or entering the civilian workforce. Every year around Veterans Day, we honor the sacrifices of those who have served our country. Howeve… Read More
person holdnig a model of a house in one hand and a set of keys with a house keychain in the other

If I Leave Someone My Home, What Do They Really Get?

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 and possessions. It is also a place to live, gather, create life stories, an… Read More
The phrase Do The Right Thing typed on a paper on office table. A reminder to make the right choices in your estate plan.

Twelve Estate Planning Blunders You Cannot Afford to Make

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 expenses for your loved ones as having no plan. Life changes, laws evol… Read More
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How to Help Your Loved Ones Avoid Probate (Spoiler: Fund Your Trust!)

Today, many people use a revocable living trust instead of a will, joint ownership, or beneficiary designation as the foundation of their estate plan. When properly prepared, a trust avoids the sometimes costly, always public, and often time-consumin… Read More