Estate Planning for Blended Families: Protecting Everyone You Love, Fairly and Thoughtfully In today’s world, families come in many shapes and sizes. That includes blended families. Whether you have remarried after a previous marriage, have children from prior relationships, or are building a new life with someone who has their own family, estate planning becomes…
Estate Planning Considerations for Military Families Military families face unique estate planning challenges that most civilian families do not. This is especially true when one or more family members are deployed overseas. In addition, members of the military have access to specialized benefits and resources that must be carefully coordinated as part of an effective…
An Inheritance Is a Blessing, But Without a Plan, It Can Become a Burden Receiving an inheritance can be life-changing. Done right, it can secure your future and strengthen your family’s legacy. Done wrong, it can disappear faster than you ever imagined. Too often, inheritances are lost because beneficiaries are unprepared. Outstanding debts, tax issues,…
What Is a Devise in My Estate Plan? If you are thinking about creating an estate plan, you may hear some new and confusing terms that make your brain hurt. One of those terms might be devise. If you are picturing an electronic or mechanical device, you are not alone—but in estate planning, a devise…
Leaving a Legacy Through Charitable Giving in Estate Planning Estate planning is not only about protecting and distributing your assets. It is also a powerful opportunity to leave a lasting impact on the causes and organizations that matter most to you. By incorporating charitable giving into your estate plan, you can support meaningful missions such…
Estate Planning Is About More Than Just Passing Down Wealth It Is About Protecting What Matters Most Many people associate estate planning solely with passing assets to their children or grandchildren. While that is certainly an important part, a well crafted estate plan can help you accomplish so much more. From supporting your loved ones…
Do You Need an Attorney to Update Your Estate Plan? When reviewing your estate planning documents, you may notice small changes that feel simple to fix. For example, you might want to name a new trusted decision maker. It can be tempting to cross out a name and write in a new one yourself. Before…
Estate Planning Is Not Just About Death Why Incapacity Planning Matters Many people believe estate planning is only about what happens after death. While that is an important part of the process, it is only one piece of the estate planning puzzle. It is just as important to plan for what happens if you become…
Why Updating Your Estate Plan Matters Creating or updating your estate plan is an important part of taking control of your finances. When proper plans are in place, you gain peace of mind and security for yourself and your family. Here are three key questions to ask yourself when reviewing your estate plan. 1. Am…
Estate Planning for Troubled Adult Children Protecting Your Legacy While Protecting Those You Love When you think about the future, you want to believe that everything you leave behind will help your children thrive. But what happens when one of your adult children is facing challenges that make financial responsibility difficult Whether it involves addiction,…