Check out our blog posts for Estate Planning tips, resources, and recent developments
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.
10 Life Events That Signal It’s Time to Review Your Estate Plan - Part 1
Common life events can drastically affect your estate plan and even cause your plan not to work in the way you intended. If any of these events have happened in your life, 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.
Stephen “tWitch” Boss Dies Without a Will
Stephen “tWitch” Boss, a hip-hop dancer, choreographer, and TV producer known for his role on So You Think You Can Dance and The Ellen Show, passed away suddenly on December 13, 2022. Because Boss died without a Will or Trust, Boss’ widow and three children must navigate the court system to collect his assets. Find out why this cautionary tale is relevant to everyone, not just the rich and famous.
3 Simple Mistakes That Can Derail Your Estate Plan
