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Estate Planning 101: Wills Vs. Trusts

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

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Estate Planning For a Child With Special Needs

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 event of

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Estate Planning Must-Haves For Single Parents

If you are a single parent, life for you right now probably couldn’t get any busier. You are likely being pulled between work, school activities, and home – and the inevitable emergencies that fill the lives of single parents everywhere. Being a single parent is a huge responsibility, even if you do share time with a parenting partner, and especially so if you don’t. Regardless, as a single parent, your children’s lives are now largely

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The Real Cost To Your Family: Having No Estate Plan At All

This is the third in an ongoing series of NLBM articles discussing the true costs and consequences of failed estate planning. The series highlights a few of the most common—and costly—planning mistakes we encounter with clients. If the series exposes any potential gaps or weak spots in your plan, meet with a Personal Family Lawyer to learn how to properly address them. When it comes to putting off or refusing to create an estate plan,

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Talking with Your Family About Your Estate Plan

Is it time to have “the talk” with your kids?  We’re not talking about a “birds and bees” talk but one that is equally important, perhaps more so. Everyone has concerns about what will happen when they die.  Some people worry about their homes, cars, or money.  Others worry about their children.  Rare, however, is the person who actually wants to talk about these things with their families. Opening these conversations with your family will

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5 Ways to Keep Kids and Grandparents Connected in the Pandemic

While the pandemic’s isolation, shutdowns, and social distancing measures have been tough for everyone, the elderly have been hit particularly hard. Seniors face the most significant health risks from COVID-19, meaning that for close to a year now, many grandparents have been unable to safely spend time in-person with their grandchildren.  While these measures are critical to protect physical health, the resulting loss of in-person connection with loved ones, especially for such an extended period

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4 Reasons Why You Can’t Afford to Go Without An Estate Plan

  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.” 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.

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Create a Special Needs Trust to Protect the Financial Future of Your Child with Special Needs

  I am always surprised when the parents of a child with special needs tell me that they were not aware of what they needed to do to ensure the future well-being and care of their child. Often, they tell me they didn’t know they needed to do anything at all. If that’s you, and you have a child with special needs at home, this is for you (or, if you have friends or family

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How To Make Estate Planning The One Resolution You Keep In 2020

We make them with the best of intentions, New Year’s resolutions. At the end of the month up to 40% of us will resolve to accomplish something in 2020. Yet, not unsurprisingly, a mere 8% of us will actually keep those resolutions and succeed in our goals. Some of the most important resolutions we will set center on family and money. Though estate planning doesn’t typically come to mind when you think “resolution,” a thoughtful

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Five Benefits of Having an Estate Plan in Place

At our firm, we view estate planning as an opportunity to celebrate your life and all that you have built. Creating an estate plan affords you the opportunity to plan for the future of those you love and to ensure they will be protected and receive assets you have worked hard throughout your lifetime to acquire. Estate planning gives you the peace of mind of knowing that when your time comes, your wishes will be

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Kids Protection Planning Guide

Kids Protection Planning Guide®

Emptying the Nest

Emptying the Nest: 8 Ways Your Estate Plan Changes When Your Children Turn into Adults