In this two-part series, we’ll explore four of the most recent and insidious financial scams that have surfaced, shed light on their tactics, and provide you with practical steps to shield your aging parents from potential harm. Read more…

Common life events can drastically affect your estate plan and even cause your plan not to work in the way you intended.

If any of these events have happened in your life, it’s time to review your plan. Read more…

Common life events can drastically affect your estate plan and even cause your plan not to work in the way you intended.

If any of these events have happened in your life, it’s time to review your plan. Read more…

As summer comes to a close, and back-to-school excitement fills the air, there is one crucial task that is often overlooked: designating legal guardians for your minor children. Legal guardians are the individuals you entrust with the care of your children if, for any reason, you are unable to do so yourself.

In the hustle of back-to-school shopping and end-of-season summer fun, it might seem like naming legal guardians for your kids is a low priority, but nothing could be farther from the truth.

Common life events can drastically affect your estate plan and even cause your plan not to work in the way you intended. If any of these events have happened in your life, it’s time to review your plan. Read more…

Did you forget any of these critical financial steps when you created a Trust? Be sure to read this week’s blog to learn why proper funding of your Trust is essential to making it work! Read more…

If you’re getting together with family this summer, it’s also a perfect time to talk to your loved ones about estate planning and the legacy you want to leave behind for the next generation.

While it may seem like a distant matter, the national debt ceiling extension can have a significant impact on your family's financial well-being and future planning. Read more…

A power of attorney (POA) is a vital legal document that grants authority to an appointed individual to act on your behalf in various matters. While many people have a general idea of what a power of attorney is, there are often misconceptions about its scope and limitations. In this article, we will delve into what a power of attorney does and what it doesn't do, clarifying its essential role in estate planning and decision-making.

Creating an estate plan is a significant step in safeguarding your assets, protecting your loved ones, and ensuring your wishes are carried out. However, estate planning is not a one-time task.

Life is dynamic, and as circumstances change, it is essential to review and update your estate plan accordingly. In this article, we will explore the reasons why it is crucial to keep your estate plan up to date and the potential consequences of failing to do so.

When you think about a loved one who has passed away, you probably don’t give much thought to the material things they’ve left you. Maybe you have a piece of their clothing that you sometimes hold close to your heart or a favorite item of theirs displayed proudly on a shelf. But what you value most about that object likely isn’t its monetary worth but the memories it evokes of your loved one and the time you spent together. You wish you could still hear from them, learn from them, and share memories with them.

Death is a topic that many people prefer to avoid discussing or even thinking about. However, planning for the inevitable is a responsible and caring act towards your loved ones. One crucial aspect of this planning is creating a last will and testament or a trust.

Vacations are a time to relax, unwind, and create beautiful memories with your loved ones. But before you set off on your adventure, it's essential to ensure that your legal affairs are in order so you can fully relax during your travels.

Can’t imagine doing one more thing before you take some much-needed time away?

Don’t worry! As your Personal Family Lawyer®, I'm here to guide you through these important tasks, so you can enjoy your vacation worry-free.

If you are going to take investment and estate planning advice from anyone, Warren Buffett is likely one you want to consider. As one of the most successful investors in history, his track record speaks for itself. However, his wisdom goes beyond picking stocks and making money.

When you think of estate planning, a Will is usually the first thing that comes to mind. In fact, most people who contact me tell me they don’t need anything complicated for their estate- just a Will. Indeed, Wills have a reputation as the number one estate planning tool and can be seen all over TV shows and movies, from the dramatic “reading of the Will” (which rarely happens in real life) to characters plotting how best to defraud their billionaire uncle’s Will in order to inherit his lavish estate.

But although Wills are a key part of your estate plan - and a big part of the movies - relying on a Will alone won’t solve your estate planning needs - no matter what Hollywood says. Instead, using just a Will to plan your final wishes is likely to leave your loved ones with an expensive mess that won’t distribute your assets in the way you intended.

Blended families were once considered “non-traditional” families, but today, blended families are becoming just as common as non-blended families. Currently, 52% of married couples (or unmarried couples who live together) have a step-kin relationship of some kind, and 4 in 10 new marriages involve remarriage.

If you’re part of a blended family, you’ve probably recognized the extra layer of complexity that comes with planning for your family’s needs and accommodating the many relationships that exist between step-parents, step-kids, and step-siblings. Topics that might be straightforward for a “traditional” family - such as where to spend the holidays or who gets the old family car - are more complex.

Estate planning is an important aspect of our financial lives that often gets overlooked. Many people believe that creating a will is the only estate planning document they need to ensure their assets are distributed according to their wishes after their death. However, this is a common misconception, as a will does not cover all aspects of estate planning.

If you’re tempted to use a DIY estate planning service or have already created a plan you aren’t 100% confident in, be sure to read how these three simple mistakes can derail your estate plan and leave your family with an expensive mess.

More often than not, clients who meet with us to review a DIY plan find out that instead of saving money on their estate plan, they’ve actually cost themselves much more by buying a plan that has mistakes. And if these mistakes aren’t caught by you while you’re alive and well, your loved ones will be the ones paying the price to resolve them after you’re gone.

As a parent, you want to ensure that your child is always safe and well taken care of, no matter what happens. But what if something unexpected happens and you're unable to make medical decisions for your child? That's where naming a medical power of attorney for your minor child becomes important.

A medical power of attorney is a legal document that designates a person to make medical decisions on your behalf if you're unable to do so. When it comes to your child, a medical power of attorney allows you to appoint someone to make medical decisions for your child if you're not available or capable of doing so.

If you’re a pet owner, you know the special bond that exists between you and your pets, and to many pet owners, our furry friends aren’t just a pet - they’re a loved and important part of our families. So if you’re thinking about how best to provide for your family after you die or if you become incapacitated, it makes sense for your beloved pet to be a part of the plan.

You want your pet to continue to have the kind of love and care you provided during your life, but estate planning for furry friends requires a little more thought than you might expect.

To understand why, it’s important to know two things:

A pet is considered property under the law

When someone receives a gift of property through a Will, that person can do whatever they want with that property, including your pet.