Check out our blog posts for Estate Planning tips, resources, and recent developments
3 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Creating Your Estate Plan With AI
The allure of Do-It-Yourself estate planning through AI is strong, especially when you think your situation is simple and straightforward. But here’s the truth: estate planning is not just about creating a set of documents, and it’s almost always more complicated than you think.
The Special Needs Planning Lesson We Learned From Aretha Franklin's Estate Battle
Aretha Franklin wowed America and the world as the Queen of Soul, but Aretha did not wow us with her estate planning. She left two handwritten Wills, and the one a jury ruled valid was found stuffed between her couch cushions. To settle a dispute over the two Wills, two of her sons went to court against a third, and while the two may have declared victory, it’s hard to feel that anyone truly won. An estate initially estimated to be valued at $80 million was whittled down to $4 million by the time the case was concluded, and while some funds were lost unnecessarily to taxes, a large portion was lost to the lawsuit itself.
Will Your Estate Plan Work When Your Family Needs It?
Like most people, you likely think estate planning is just one more task to check off your life’s endless “to-do” list. This story illustrates the consequences of not updating your plan.
4 Common Mistakes Made On Life Insurance Beneficiary Designations
Investing in life insurance is a foundational part of estate planning, and when done right it’s a primary way to say “I love you” to your loved ones after you are gone. However, when naming your policy’s beneficiaries, several mistakes can lead to potentially dire consequences for the people you’re investing to protect and support.
5 Ways DIY Estate Plans Can Fail & Leave Your Family At Risk - Part 2
From LegalZoom® and Rocket Lawyer® to TrustandWill.com and FreeWill.com, these DIY legal documents may seem like a cheap and easy way to finally cross estate planning off your to-do list—and do so without having to pay a lawyer big bucks to assist you. After all, you’ve been able to prepare and file your taxes online for years, is estate planning really that much different?
5 Ways DIY Estate Plans Can Fail & Leave Your Family At Risk - Part 1
From LegalZoom® and Rocket Lawyer® to TrustandWill.com and FreeWill.com, these DIY legal documents may seem like a cheap and easy way to finally cross estate planning off your to-do list—and do so without having to pay a lawyer big bucks to assist you. After all, you’ve been able to prepare and file your taxes online for years, is estate planning really that much different?
What Your “Last Will & Testament” Will (and Will Not) Do—Part 2
August is “National Make-A-Will Month,” and if you have already prepared your will, congratulations—too few Americans have taken this key first step in the estate planning process.
What Your “Last Will & Testament” Will (and Will Not) Do - Part 1
August is “National Make-A-Will Month,” and if you have already prepared your will, congratulations—too few Americans have taken this key first step in the estate planning process.
Estate Planning Checkup: Is Your Estate Plan Up-to-Date?
While you almost surely understand the importance of creating an estate plan, you may not know that keeping your plan current is every bit as important as creating a plan to begin with.
Married in Massachusetts? A Joint Revocable Living Trust May Be Your Best Option
When younger clients are juggling multiple RLTs, realty trusts, and ILITs with no idea why, it’s often a sign that they have a cookie cutter estate plan that doesn’t serve them. In my experience, an overly complicated estate plan can result in a failure to fund properly, and can create a probate time bomb that families won’t even learn about until it’s too late.
How DIY Wills and Trusts Offer a False Sense of Security … and May Leave Your Family With an Expensive Mess
Do-it-yourself Wills and Trusts are all over the internet, with promises of saving you money and protecting your loved ones after you’re gone. But don’t be fooled! They’re often way more trouble than they’re worth.
Talking to Your Parents: Two Conversations About Money and Death You Need to Have
In this week’s blog, we take the conversation about money and death to a deeper level with your parents and family to truly understand your family’s financial picture and your plan for the future.
Protecting Your Family's Safety Net: How to Set Up Your Life Insurance Policy The Right Way
Life insurance is an important part of protecting your family, but if you don’t set it up the right way, there’s a good chance it won’t help your loved ones the way you want it to.
Hiring a Lawyer: What Flat Fees, Hourly Fees and Retainer Billing Could Mean For Your Life and Family
This week, we explore the differences between hourly billing and flat fee billing for attorneys, and how these differences can affect the legal work you’re paying for.
The Scary Truth: Naming Godparents Does Not Create Legal Guardians
Many parents name godparents to mentor and guide their children throughout life. But the scary truth is that your children could still end up in the care of a stranger, even if they have a godparent.
AARP and The Red Cross Celebrate Make-A-Will Month, But Here’s What They Didn’t Tell You
AARP and the Red Cross celebrate Make-A-Will Month by encouraging you to make a Will for free online, but what they aren’t sharing could leave your family with a mess.
Can You Rely on Legal Insurance for Your Estate Plan?
Group legal insurance might seem like a good way to save on your estate planning needs, but will a plan created through legal insurance work for your family when they need it?
10 Life Events That Signal It’s Time to Review Your Estate Plan - Part 2
Last week, we started to explore 10 life changes that might affect your estate plan. This week, we’re coving five more life events that mean it’s time to review your plan.
Estate Planning Pitfalls: 3 Mistakes That Could Make Your Estate Plan Worthless
Did you forget any of these critical financial steps when you created a Trust? Be sure to read this week’s blog to learn why proper funding of your Trust is essential to making it work! Read more…
Why “Just a Will” Is Never Enough
When you think of estate planning, a Will is usually the first thing that comes to mind. In fact, most people who contact me tell me they don’t need anything complicated for their estate- just a Will. But although they are a key part of your estate plan, relying on only a Will leaves huge gaps in your estate and actually guarantees that your family will need to go to court when you die.