Estate Planning

An advance health care directive, also known as a living will in some locations, is a very valuable estate planning document. It helps protect individuals from scenarios in which they might receive medical care that contradicts their personal wishes if they’re...

Thinking about the future is not always easy. Many people put off creating a will because life feels too busy or because they assume there is still plenty of time. But when someone passes away without a will in place, the decisions about their estate do not pause....

Estate planning is an important step in protecting your family, your assets and your personal wishes. Many people delay this process because it feels overwhelming or because they believe it only applies to those with significant wealth. In reality, estate planning is...

One of the main goals of an estate plan is to ensure that your loved ones receive the assets you intend them to have. While there are multiple ways to make this happen, one is the irrevocable trust.  This type of trust can’t be changed once it’s established and...

Creating your estate plan can give you a sense of relief knowing that your affairs are in order when you die or if you become incapacitated. Once the will is signed, powers of attorney are in place and any trusts are funded, it’s tempting to believe that the job is...

You may find that estate planning is not quite as common as you may have assumed. It makes sense that everyone would want to write an estate plan eventually, but studies tend to find that only about a third of Americans have actually done so. Most people do not have...

As your parents are getting older, you may realize that it is time to have some important conversations about estate planning. Specifically, you may be wondering if they need to use a medical power of attorney or a financial power of attorney. Both of these documents...

Some people who have smaller estates with fewer assets attempt to use a simple will to address their estate. They may not have enough property and resources to need a trust to dispense their worldly goods. But situations can crop up where a will falls short of the...

Creating a plan for your property and your wishes brings clarity for you and your loved ones. A thoughtful plan can spare your family confusion and delay during a difficult time. It also helps you protect children and dependents long before any emergency. Getting...

There is perhaps no more personal decision than the type of care you wish to receive as your life dwindles down. Some folks want to pull out all the stops — full code, artificial respiration, feeding tube, etc. — while others prefer only palliative care and go DNR....