Decisions about your health care are some of the most important you will ever make. While you are well, planning for the unexpected now is so important. Don’t put off making plans until it’s too late and you are unable to assert your wishes. National Health Care Decisions Day is Sunday, April 16th. This day is dedicated to educating and empowering both young and old about the importance of advanced care planning. Read More
WHY DIY ESTATE PLANNING IS A BAD IDEA FOR THE PEOPLE YOU LOVE
America is a nation of do-it-yourselfers, but building a deck and creating a legally valid estate plan are two entirely different things — and a less-than-perfect deck won’t devastate your family’s financial future or the relationships among the people you care about most. The prevalence of online legal services has led many people to believe that they can create legal documents cheaply and those documents will be Read More
THE BEST GIFT? RECORD and PASS DOWN YOUR FAMILY WEALTH LEGACY
The most important inheritance you can provide for your loved ones is so much more than the money you’ll leave behind. The most important inheritance includes your values, insights, stories, and experience. We all have the intention of creating a journal or a recording, but life gets in the way and the journaling or recording never happens. Capturing your story, in recorded form, is one of the most rewarding aspects Read More
4 Tips for Talking About Estate Planning With Your Family Over the Holidays
This year, it is our sincere hope that you will be able to visit with loved ones and enjoy a holiday season with your family. However, given the ongoing pandemic, preparing for unforeseen circumstances is still on everyone’s mind, and with everyone together, the holidays are often a good time to bring up estate planning. That said, asking your dad about his end-of-life wishes while he’s watching football isn’t the Read More
10 Common Estate Planning Mistakes Your Family Can’t Afford to Make—Part 2
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 Read More
10 Common Estate Planning Mistakes Your Family Can’t Afford to Make—Part 1
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 Read More
3 Vital Estate Planning Documents for High School Graduates
With the arrival of summer, young people across the country are about to reach a key milestone: high school graduation. If you have a child claiming their diploma, now is the time to prepare them for life after leaving the nest. Graduating high school is a significant accomplishment. However, it comes with serious responsibilities that your child probably isn't thinking much about right now. Once your child turns Read More
Estate Planning For a Child With Special Needs: What Parents Need to Know
Estate planning is an obvious concern for all parents, but if you have a child with special needs, it’s crucial that you are aware of the unique considerations that go into planning for a child who may be dependent on you at some level for their lifetime. If your child has special needs, you must understand exactly what’s necessary to provide for the emotional, physical, and financial needs of your child, in the Read More
Don’t Forget To Protect Your Furry Family: Estate Planning For Your Pets
It’s sad but true that many pets end up in shelters after their owner dies or becomes incapacitated. In fact, the Humane Society estimates that between 100,00 to 500,000 pets are placed in shelters each year for exactly this reason, and a large number of these animals are ultimately euthanized. Unfortunately, the law considers pets to be nothing more than personal property just like cars, furniture, and electronic Read More
Consider This Before You Create A Will Online
A last will and testament is the most commonly thought-of document when it comes to an estate plan. But really it is only a very small part of an integrated plan that ensures your family stays out of court and out of conflict if and when something happens to you. Do not think you can just write your own will and that will help your family. You have probably seen Read More