A primary goal of estate planning is to financially provide for your loved ones. One way to ensure that they are set up for lifelong success is with an inheritance that pays for their education. Higher levels of education are positively correlated with better life outcomes, including improved health, longer lifespans, and higher incomes.[1] However, education costs […]
Estate planning is an exercise in anticipating potential future events that could affect your plans for what happens if you become incapacitated (unable to manage your own affairs during your lifetime) and how your assets (property and accounts) will be handled after your death. Most folks will say the more prepared, the better. But when it […]
Approximately three-fourths of Americans do not have a basic will.[1] Many of the same people also have children under the age of 18, which underscores a major misunderstanding about estate plans: They can accomplish much more than just handling financial assets (money, accounts, and property). One of the most important estate plan functions for parents of […]
Michael Jackson passed away in 2009, but the settling of his estate continues more than 15 years after his death due to a lingering tax dispute with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and other legal challenges, including a lawsuit brought by his mother over a deal to sell part of his music rights to Sony Music […]
The relationship between spouses is special in all contexts, not the least of which is the estate planning context. In many instances, you can exclude people (known as disinheriting them) from your estate plan, including your parents, siblings, and adult children. But there are special protections built into the law that may help protect a spouse […]
Ask any parent about their goals for estate planning, and their first answer will be their wish to provide for their children. This goal is most effectively accomplished through an estate plan where parents can officially and formally express their wishes and intentions for providing for said children. There are two primary options for leaving an […]
As a millennial, you are contributing to the workforce in a major way and are making positive changes in the world around you. We understand that your concerns may differ from someone of a different generation, and we are here to help you craft an estate plan that protects your future and addresses the things that […]
It’s fair to say that estate planning has never been truly popular. Research shows that, in 2024, less than one-third of Americans report having a will.[1] And even fewer people are creating estate plans today than in years past. However, the trust is that every adult—whether they are 19 or 99—really should have a will at a […]
Many of us are familiar with the story of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Central to the story is the relationship between Snow White and her stepmother. After losing his first wife, the king decided to remarry in order to provide a motherly influence for his daughter, Snow White. While things were peaceful for a […]
Sitting down to create or update your estate plan can be overwhelming. Crucial to a successful plan is your ability to address two major questions: First, who will get your stuff when you die; and Second, how do you want those individuals or charities to receive their inheritance? Ways to Give Away Your Money and Property […]
