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Think back to how your life was seven years ago. Your family, your finances, your relationships, and even the accounts you use have probably changed in ways both obvious and subtle. Seven years does not feel like a long time until you start making the list.Your estate plan needs to keep up with you. The […]

Planning for the future, especially your own mortality, is never easy. Even when you understand the importance of creating a will or trust to protect your loved ones, finding the motivation to complete an estate plan can be difficult. Yet an unfinished estate plan is almost as risky as having no plan at all. Without

Buying a home is an exciting milestone, whether it is your first home or your latest move. You have likely worked with a realtor, lender, home inspector, and title company throughout the process, but there is one more important professional you should contact: your estate planning attorney. Ensuring that your new home is properly integrated

Congratulations on your new home. Whether you are officially a first-time homeowner or are leveling up (or scaling back) to a space that better fits your life, buying property is a massive milestone. While you are busy picking paint swatches and unboxing the kitchen, do not forget that a new deed often means a new

Steward—a term for someone entrusted with the care of something that does not personally belong to them—is commonly used in such realms as business, public service, and environmentalism.  Conservationists may be referred to as stewards of the land. Business leaders may describe themselves as stewards charged with acting in shareholders’ best interests. Public figures refer

According to the College Board, the average tuition and fees for the 2025–2026 academic year are $11,950 for a four-year in-state public institution; $31,880 for a four-year out-of-state public institution; $45,000 for a four-year nonprofit private institution; and $4,150 for a two-year public institution. If postsecondary education is in your family’s future, the following tools

For some people, the term family meeting may not bring to mind a pleasant gathering where everyone shares fond memories and warm feelings. When someone says, “We need to talk,” it often implies that something is wrong or that tough decisions need to be made or discussed. However, in estate planning, future problems are exactly

One of the first things I ask new clients is when they last reviewed the beneficiary designations on their financial accounts. Retirement accounts. Life insurance. Bank accounts with a payable-on-death designation. Investment accounts. The answer is almost always the same. They filled out the forms years ago during a job change or when they first

Real estate can be owned in several different ways. The form of ownership, or how your property is titled, can determine how much control you have over it, how vulnerable your property is to creditor claims and lawsuits, and what will happen to it at your death.  Individual Ownership One of the most common ways

Five words no one ever wants to hear from their doctor are “Get your affairs in order.” Unfortunately, 76 percent of Americans do not have a will, and it often requires a chronic disease, terminal illness diagnosis, or other life-changing event to prompt people to start the estate planning process. If you are facing a