Estate Planning

Too many family members find themselves dealing with complex problems after a loved one passes away. This can include issues such as intestate succession when a person dies without a will. When the state takes over, any personal wishes you might have had about your...

There are many different estate planning challenges that may not be apparent until after a loved one has passed away. For example, a sibling who feels as though they have been excluded or treated unfairly in the assignment of assets may argue that another child unduly...

If you have a child who is nearing age 18, there’s a good chance you’re still helping them with most of their healthcare and other planning decisions, especially if they live at home. But this big birthday is about more than someone being considered a legal adult....

To put it plainly…one of the biggest mistakes you can make with your estate plan is to allow your estate planning documents to become outdated. I always tell my clients that an estate plan is a “living breathing thing” and should be reviewed at strategic times in...

History: In the past “pets” were treated as “chattel” or possessions under the law. This was because they were viewed as necessary to aid us in our lifestyles. They had to “work for a living.” Dogs herded sheep; cats kept the rat population down; and horses and...

Aesop, the ancient Greek writer of fables,  lived between 620 BC and 564 BCE. He was a contemporary of Aristotle, Herodotus, and Plutarch— the “Greek Greats!”  It is mostly philosophy and history majors who have actually read the Greek Greats. They are not always easy...

When people discuss their estate planning, they often focus on their Wills and Trusts. One thing that often gets overlooked is their beneficiary designations. A beneficiary designation will override the terms of your Will or Trust.   If you have a Will or Trust that...

My son is an avid wildlife photographer. We have a picture of a deer, swimming—yes, swimming away from a coyote. Observing this was a first for our entire family. A deer swimming—in a local salt-water pond? Once in a lifetime. But Sam says, “This is the rule of 10....