Estate Planning Is Not a Taboo Topic There are all kinds of topics that people tend not to discuss at family or friendly functions. The common no-nos are religion and politics. Another topic many don’t want to discuss is estate planning.  Perhaps it’s because it feels morbid or too personal. Let this post from our...Read More

Do You Have A Will? Gifting and Estate Planning aren’t always top of mind. Estate planning is something you should think about long before retirement. There are several aspects to estate planning. Gifting is one of them. Gifts are subject to certain tax rules. Gifting assets can be beneficial to your estate in several ways....Read More

A comprehensive estate plan is important to create and update during all phases of life. It protects your assets from unwanted distribution in the event of your death and clarifies your wishes on crucial topics like healthcare, power of attorney and child guardianship. Protect the people you love and the money you’ve worked hard for...Read More

It’s that time of year again. Thousands of parents are sending their kids off to college or to their first jobs after high school graduation. Many are looking at each other wondering where the time has gone and how the kids grew up so fast. And many wonder what to do next. While you adjust...Read More

Some changes come so quickly and are so pervasive that people rarely stop to think about the consequences. Not that long ago, data storage meant boxes and boxes of paperwork. Seemingly overnight, the record of our lives moved from shoeboxes and filing cabinets to cloud accounts. Much of who we are is stored online, whether...Read More

You did it! You took that often-dreaded step and worked with a lawyer to create your estate plan, which includes a will, an advanced health care directive, and possibly a trust or two. You have your estate planning documents in hand, and you feel a great sense of relief and accomplishment. But now what? Is...Read More

No estate plan is perfect for everyone. For it to work effectively, an estate plan must reflect the assets and potential heirs, as well as the values and goals of the person it was created for. This is never truer than when an estate plan is created for the parent of a young child. We...Read More

Another long cold winter has come to an end, and spring is slowly emerging. You know what that means: it is time for spring cleaning! Many people find great joy in taking the opportunity to open up the house, dust, clean, vacuum, polish and de-clutter; others see it as a massive chore. Whether you revel...Read More

In the past, we have written about the importance of updating your estate plan as life changes. But an effective estate plan requires more than this. It requires a scheduled annual review with your lawyer. The Annual Review: What’s Involved When you meet with your lawyer for your estate plan’s annual checkup, you will likely...Read More

Creating a comprehensive estate plan is only the beginning of the estate planning process. Every so often, a life event will require you to review and revise your estate plan to keep it current. Here are the top four events that will likely trigger major updates to your plan. When Should I Revisit My Estate...Read More