Articles

A judge will look to state law to determine the appropriate guardian, who may not be a person that you would have chosen.

How to Choose a Guardian for Yourself

Every day we make hundreds of decisions for ourselves—from what to eat for breakfast to where to vacation. However, what happens if you cannot make decisions for yourself? Who do you want making day-to-day decisions on your behalf and serving as yo… Read More
Close up hand of young woman holding credit card while making online payment. Woman hands holding a debit card and using laptop to do shopping online. Smiling girl with bank card paying bills online.

Can Someone Else Pay for My Estate Plan?

Estate planning is not just for the wealthy. Every adult should have an estate plan, yet surprisingly, most Americans do not. The perceived cost of creating one is among the most cited reasons for a lack of estate planning. The consequences of not ha… Read More
JTWROS, Joint owners, Joint Tenants With Rights Of Survivorship. Concept with keyword, people and icons.

The Perils of Joint Ownership of Property

People often set up bank accounts or real estate so that they own them jointly with a spouse or other family member. The appeal of joint ownership, specifically with survivorship rights, is that when one owner dies, the other owner(s) will automatica… Read More
Notebook with Inheritance written on the front, image of car, home and family in wood cut out

Won’t My Spouse and Kids Inherit Everything When I Die?

You may think that if you die while you are married, everything you own will automatically go to your spouse and children. But you are actually thinking of state rules that apply if someone dies without leaving a will. In legal jargon, this is referr… Read More
Power of Attorney, Living Will, and Health Care Power of Attorney documents on a desk

3 Ways to Manage Your Estate Plan Cost

You may think creating a simple estate plan should be easy and something you can do independently. Unfortunately, this is not often the case. Estate planning laws vary greatly from state to state, can sometimes be complicated, and constantly change.… Read More
A gray cat lies on the bed with money and dollar-shaped glasses. Rich pet. Pet Trust

Three More Famous Pet Trust Cases and the Lessons We Can Learn from Them

Sometimes, pet owners can get a bit creative when providing for their pets’ future care. The following three famous cases involving a sort of a pet trust offer some important lessons. Although some of the cases shared here involve leaving an inheri… Read More
Three Celebrity Pet Trust…

Three Celebrity Pet Trust Cases and the Lessons We Can Learn from Them

Not long ago, pet trusts were thought of as little more than eccentric things that famous people did for their pets when they had too much money. These days, pet trusts are considered much more mainstream. For example, in 2016, Minnesota became the f… Read More
A Trust for Fluffy or Fid…

A Trust for Fluffy or Fido? Why Every Pet Parent Needs to Consider a Pet Trust Today

Estate planning is about protecting what is important to you. Although much of the traditional estate planning conversation focuses on surviving spouses, children, grandchildren, and charities, many pet parents wonder what could happen to their “fu… Read More
5 Tragic Mistakes People…

5 Tragic Mistakes People Make When Leaving an Inheritance to Their Pets

Planning for your pets in your estate plan is an excellent way to ensure that your beloved pet will receive proper care and attention after you pass on. The problem, of course, is that you will not be there to ensure that your wishes are carried out.… Read More
Adult children and aging parents

What Conditions Can I Put on My Child’s Inheritance?

You have two primary options for leaving an inheritance to a child. The most straightforward is to give it to them in a single lump sum, with no strings attached. But this might not be the best option for some children. You may be concerned about the… Read More