A Trust is Only as Strong as Its Administrator: A Guide for New Trustees

Embracing the role of a trustee is a significant testament to confidence and responsibility. Before undertaking this invaluable position, remember that you hold the power to uphold the honoring of wishes, securing legacies, and distributing precious assets. For those contemplating trusts in their estate plans, the journey is equally transformative. Understanding the role a trustee has to play within a trust will Read More

Protecting Your Business in Your Estate Plan

As a business owner, your entrepreneurial journey is not just about building a successful venture; it's also about creating a lasting legacy. You’ve worked hard to make a profitable business, and ensuring that it extends beyond your lifetime requires tactful estate planning. Every business owner’s estate planning journey will look different, but there are some tools that can help anyone protect their interests. Read More

Using Estate Planning Tools to Avoid Probate

If you’re new to the world of estate planning, you have probably seen the term “probate” come up quite often. If you’ve never gone through probate, you should consider yourself lucky. Probate is the legal process through which a deceased person’s assets are distributed. Many families work hard on their estate plans in an effort to limit the potential impact probate will have on a family, but sometimes an air-tight Read More

Creating a Guardianship Plan for Your Children

Those with large support systems and close, loving relationships with friends and family already know they are blessed. They’re able to raise their children in an environment where they can feel fully supported. However, even in situations where you believe your children will be in good hands if you can no longer care for them, you shouldn’t leave it up to family or the court system to determine guardianship in your Read More

Estate Planning Tips For Parents of Young Children

As a parent, it’s hard to imagine life without your child, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t still be a significant part of their lives after your passing. It’s not an easy subject for parents to think about, but it’s a possibility. Without comprehensive estate planning, you could leave your children and dependents vulnerable. Have you considered who will care for your minor child, or manage their inheritance? Read More

Long-Term Care Planning Is Still Culturally Significant

Advancements in medicine have made it possible for us to appreciate our family members longer than ever, but not every family has a plan for long-term care. For many families, planning to spend the later years of their lives in assisted living or elder care facilities is the norm. Not only have they built an estate plan that creates the appropriate infrastructure, but it’s also considered socially acceptable and Read More

Considerations for Power of Attorney

Developing a comprehensive estate plan requires many different elements that work together to benefit you and your family. One of the most important documents within your estate plan is the power of attorney. There are several types and each comes with its own set of responsibilities. When you make your own estate plan, incorporating your family members and people you trust is an essential part of making sure your Read More

Estate Planning Is For Everyone

For some people, generational wealth and managing the assets and responsibilities that come with that, are a normal part of life. Individuals that grow up this way may already have a firm grasp of the importance of estate planning and how important it is for them and their families. If you are unfamiliar with estate management or the culture around it, there are a lot of myths about estate planning that cause many Read More

Capacity and Decision-Making

Most people know someone who, in spite of everyone’s best efforts, continues to make bad choices. The kind of person who just lost their job, but still purchased an expensive car using a high-interest credit card. Or someone who has diabetes, and won’t stop eating sweets. There are many situations where most people would consider the “right” choice is just plain common-sense. The reality is that the majority of Read More

Parents: Traveling for the Holidays? Don’t Forget This

The most wonderful time of the year is also the most stressful time for many people. Parents and those who are traveling out of state or country might be especially on edge.  Still, making preparations ahead of time can do wonders to tamp down the holiday stress. If you are a parent who will be hundreds of miles away (or farther) from your children for an extended period of time, the issue of decision-making for your Read More