Every year on the Fourth of July, Americans across the country celebrate our nation’s declaration of independence from Great Britain. Yet only about one-third of Americans have an estate plan—meaning that most Americans have given up their independence when it comes to deciding what Continue reading →

Not only is Disney’s award-winning animated film Encanto hugely entertaining, it also contains the following valuable estate planning lessons:

• Leaving a family legacy is important and can have an impact beyond your immediate family.
• Be sure to consider the significance of multigenerational Continue reading →

The short answer to whether couples in a domestic partnership have the same rights as married couples when it comes to estate planning is probably not. To a large extent, the state in which you live, and maybe even the city or county, determines domestic partners’ rights.

What Is a Continue reading →

Wills and trusts are the two basic legal instruments that people use to pass accounts and property on to their loved ones at death. Although a revocable living trust is often used in place of a will, the two are not mutually exclusive. You can have both a will and a trust, and in Continue reading →

According to Statista, more than 295 million people in the United States use social media.^[1] If you are an avid social media user, have you considered what will happen to your accounts when you die? If you have spent time creating, uploading, and sharing content, it is important Continue reading →

Most states have laws that prevent someone who has intentionally killed another individual from being able to inherit any property from their victim.^[1] In general, these laws are referred to as “slayer statutes” and are designed to prevent the patently unjust outcome of a killer Continue reading →

Here are four more common mistakes in estate planning. If your plan is in place and current, this will serve as more validation that you are on the right track. Feel free to share this information with friends and family members, especially those who may not have a plan in place.

1. Continue reading →

Think for a few moments about what would happen if you suddenly became incapacitated or died. Would your spouse or family know what to do? Would they know where to find important records, assets and insurance documents? Would they be able to access (or even know about) online accounts Continue reading →

In first marriages, the couple generally has the same goals when it comes to their estate planning: take care of the surviving spouse for as long as he or she lives, then whatever is left will go to the children. They may own many of their assets jointly and, at the death of the first Continue reading →

From time to time, it’s good to review why having a complete, up-to-date estate plan is so important. In addition to confirming our own actions, it can provide us with valuable information to pass along to friends and family who, for whatever reasons, have yet to act. So, here are Continue reading →