Estate Planning

October is National Estate Planning Awareness Month

Okay, we have to own up to something. Officially, October 21-27, 2024 is National Estate Planning Awareness Week, but we are so passionate about providing peace of mind to our clients that we extended this important week into a whole month. It’s tough to convey all the value an estate plan brings you and your family in just one week, so we’ve decided to use the entire month of October to remind everyone of the importance of creating or maintaining an estate plan. […]

Have You Included a Personal Property Memorandum in Your Plan?

Congratulations! You’ve finished your will or living trust, and you’re basking in the peace of mind you’ve provided for you and your family. You pat yourself on the back, knowing that all your earthly possessions will be divided fairly and squarely amongst your loved ones, just as you wished. Life is good. But what happens if a few years down the road you decide to leave a specific asset to a specific person that wasn’t mentioned in your estate plan? Say you want […]

August is National Make-a-Will month

It’s our favorite month of the year. That’s right, August is National Make-a-Will month! It’s the month we remind everyone of the importance of creating or maintaining an estate plan. If you already have a plan in place, great job! You’re enjoying the comfort of knowing you and your family are protected. If it’s been a few years since you signed your documents, August is the perfect time to have your plan reviewed to make sure everything is still in order. Now if […]

11 Things to do in Texas Before You Die

Unfortunately this article is not about skydiving, visiting the Alamo, or riding a bull for the first time. Check out the Tim McGraw song or the Morgan Freeman movie if that’s what you were looking for. No, this is a more practical look at preparing for the inevitable. It’s easy to want to avoid discussing it, but it’s just as much a part of life as dream vacations and bull riding. Why wouldn’t you plan for it just like your retirement, your career, […]

If You Don’t Have a Will, You’re Not Alone – But That’s Not a Good Thing

A recent USA Today article noted that fewer older Americans have estate plans than ever before. This troubling trend should sound alarm bells throughout the land, but for a majority of Americans this is not news at all. In fact, it’s estimated that only about one third of adults have an estate plan. Of the two-thirds that don’t have any advanced planning in place, almost three-quarters are women. The statistics are downright worrisome, but why are so many of us foregoing this valuable […]

Estate Planning for Blended Families

For purposes of estate planning, a blended family is one where married couples have children from previous relationships or marriages. These families can include step children, half siblings, or even extended family members who live in the same household. It is very important to revisit your estate plan after a divorce or remarriage, especially when children are involved. The only way to make sure your children are protected in these situations is to have an estate plan in place that reflects your wishes. […]

Why You Should Avoid Do-It-Yourself Wills

I admit, it’s tempting. The lure of the instant solution, avoiding a stodgy lawyer’s office, saving money, and a easy way to check that project off your to-do list. I’m speaking of course about the myriad of online options for creating your own will or trust. It seems like they’re all over the internet these days. But like so many other things on the internet, you should be careful where you tread. Sometimes because you can doesn’t mean you should. Not that you’re […]

Is it Time to Review Your Estate Plan?

When you had your will drafted years ago, you might have thought it could sit in your file cabinet until that fateful day when it was needed and everything would work out just fine. That might be true, but the reality is that things change, and the estate plan you set up in your 30s might not be what you need in your 50s or beyond. So maybe it’s time to blow the dust off and take a look at your documents to […]

Are Charitable Trusts Right for You?

There are many reasons why people donate to charity. While tax benefits may be important to some, altruism is far and away the leading impetus for giving away one’s assets. Donors may have a personal connection to a certain cause or simply want to be part of something meaningful, but the feeling they get from their benevolence is likely the driver of their generosity. Luckily for such kind-hearted people, there are estate planning techniques that make fulfilling their charitable intent both tax-efficient and […]

Providing for Beloved Pets and Service Animals

Let’s face it. Our pets are not just loyal companions, they’re members of our family. We have them groomed, we make sure they have their favorite chew toys when we leave for work, we hire pet-sitters when we go out of town. We even buy pet insurance to cover their medical expenses. We love them like children. And just like our kids, they are dependent on us for their care. So what would happen if you were unexpectedly missing from their life? Well, […]

RESOURCES

October is National Estate Planning Awareness Month

Have You Included a Personal Property Memorandum in Your Plan?

August is National Make-a-Will month

11 Things to do in Texas Before You Die

If You Don’t Have a Will, You’re Not Alone – But That’s Not a Good Thing

Estate Planning for Blended Families

Why You Should Avoid Do-It-Yourself Wills

Is it Time to Review Your Estate Plan?

Are Charitable Trusts Right for You?

Providing for Beloved Pets and Service Animals

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