A common misconception is that estate plans are only for people with sizeable estates, multiple houses and valuable assets. While they will require more help creating a comprehensive estate plan due to the complexities of their estate, they are not the only ones who...


Estate Planning
Getting a parent to create an estate plan without undue influence
As the parents of adult children move further into their middle age and senior years, even if they’re fully cognitive and relatively healthy, stubbornness can be an issue when it comes to addressing pressing legal matters. It can seem to many adult children like the...
Can my trust receive any remaining assets after my death?
When establishing a trust, there are instances when a person leaves out assets, whether intentionally or not. Some grantors purposefully do not include assets in a trust because it would be disadvantageous. For instance, insurance companies charge higher premiums for...
When is it reasonable to decline the estate executor role?
The events following a death could be unpredictable. Their family might need time and space to grieve or settle essentials following the loss. Additionally, they might face unique legal matters concerning the deceased's estate. The estate could undergo various...
When should you update your power of attorney?
Estate planning does more than designate assets to beneficiaries. The documents you include in your plan will protect all your wishes should you become incapacitated or die. And one of them is a power of attorney (POA), which authorizes someone to act on your behalf,...
3 ways parents can protect their children with an estate plan
Those who have just had children are often keenly aware of how their new family members are totally dependent on the adults in their lives. Infants and toddlers are incapable of meeting their own needs and require 24/7 support from adults just to stay alive. Older...
What role does a life insurance trust have in your estate plan?
A life insurance trust is a powerful tool in estate planning that can ensure your loved ones are financially secure after your passing. Some individuals know they need to have life insurance, but they don’t realize how a life insurance trust can benefit them. A life...
7 questions to ask when making advance directives
An uncomfortable but crucial part of estate planning is creating directives regarding your preferred medical care should you become incapacitated. These advance health care directives allow you to continue making your own medical decisions—with the help of an...
2 oversights people commonly make when updating estate plans
There are certain times in life when it becomes necessary to update estate planning documents. If a beneficiary dies before a testator, removing them from the estate plan will often be necessary to keep the documents valid and up-to-date. If someone divorces, they...
Everyone needs an estate plan
People often believe that estate planning is something they can put off until they’re older. Maybe they decide that they’ll make a plan when they retire, for instance. The truth is that everyone could have an estate plan. Any legal adult needs to have a plan in place....