When you begin thinking about estate planning, one of the first questions you might ask is whether you need a will, a trust, or both. You may have heard conflicting information from friends, social media, or TV experts, which can make the decision feel confusing. And while both wills and trusts can play an important role in your estate plan, the real question is not which document you should choose, but how to create a plan that actually works when your loved ones need it to.

We've all been there. The holiday White Elephant gift exchange starts out fun and lighthearted. But then Uncle Jim steals the massage gun he bought in hopes of winning it for himself. The married couples start tag-teaming to keep the best gifts between them. Cousin Sarah gets stuck with the singing fish. Someone's definitely holding a grudge about that coffee mug from three swaps ago. Now imagine that same dynamic, except instead of gag gifts, it's Dad's classic car, Mom's je

October 20–26, 2025, is Estate Planning Awareness Week - a national observance created to encourage Americans to think about what will happen to their loved ones and their assets after they die. For many people, the term estate planning brings to mind stacks of legal documents, a will, a trust, a healthcare directive, or powers of attorney. But estate planning isn’t just about creating documents. It’s about making sure the people you love are protected and supported when they

When you’re ready to finally put an estate plan in place, it’s natural to feel excited and relieved. You’re taking a powerful step to protect your family, get organized, and make sure everything is handled the way you want if you become incapacitated and when you die. But what happens when your spouse doesn’t share your enthusiasm? Maybe they roll their eyes, insist you don’t need that, or even agree to a meeting only to shut it down once they’re there. It can leave you feeli

You’ve built a life with someone you love - sharing a home, experiences, and maybe even finances - but without legal marriage, the law doesn’t automatically recognize your relationship. That means if something happens to you, your partner could be left without legal rights to your property, finances, or even decisions about your medical care. In this article, you’ll learn why unmarried couples face greater legal risks, what key planning steps you can take to protect each othe

When Ian Burke, a mail carrier from Destin, Texas , heard that Floyd—a 70-pound dog he'd befriended on his delivery route—had ended up in...

The statistics are sobering. According to the Federal Reserve's 2022 Survey of Consumer Finances , the wealth gap between white Americans...

Exploring the complexities of estate planning, this new blog post delves into how proper legal strategies could have prevented the chaos...

Picture this: you've just set up your estate plan using a quick and easy online DIY form or a budget-friendly legal service. Or, maybe...

James Howell's digital currency worth about $700 millon and not surprisingly a documentary is in the works . In trying to recover the...

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The recent passing of legendary actor Gene Hackman has revealed a complicated estate situation that serves as a powerful warning for...

Every year on February 1st, we observe National Unclaimed Property Day - a reminder of the staggering $70 billion (yes, with a B) in...

When disaster strikes, time is your most precious resource. Look for the link below to a very valuable emergency-prepping toolkit! From...

Understanding Trusts and Homeowner's Insurance: Essential Tips to Avoid Future Claim Denials. When you create an estate plan that...

Surveys conducted in 2024 and Ameriprise Financial revealed a troubling trend: Americans are falling behind on estate planning. It...

As you set your resolutions for the year ahead, it’s easy to overlook one of the most important steps you can take for your future:...

Have you ever heard horror stories about families fighting over Grandma's jewelry or getting stuck in a never-ending legal battle after...

In the first part of this series , we discussed how some professional adult guardians have used their powers to abuse the seniors placed...

Elder abuse can take a wide variety of forms, but we think the worst of the worst is caused by unscrupulous adult guardians appointed by...