With an ever-growing list of day-to-day responsibilities, being a parent is hard—never mind being a single parent! It’s hard enough to find the time to go grocery shopping and take a shower. Carving out time not only to think about what would happen to your children should you become incapacitated or worse but to actually…
Modern family structures are ever more complex. It is increasingly the norm for parents to separate and remarry, bringing step- or half-siblings into the mix. Expectations around monogamy are challenged by contemporary values, and wider acceptance of non-traditional sexualities has led to an expansive idea of what counts as family. Add to this the ugly…
You’d think that only the seediest of human beings would prey on the elderly and, though you’d be right, you’d be surprised by how many are willing to sink to such lows. Every year senior citizens in the U.S. lose billions to scammers, the vast majority of which work through digital and phone networks. For…
Congratulations! If you are reading this article you are likely among the minority of U.S. citizens who has an estate plan. While worthy of a pat on the back, having a plan is only the start of responsible asset management. Once you’ve gotten the ball rolling, you now need to keep it on course with…
There are certain topics we avoid talking about with our parents—and estate planning is one of them. Asking your parents about their retirement finances and what will happen to their assets after they die is not only uncomfortable, but it can make you sound greedy, or even scheming. The discomfort isn’t just on the child’s…
Are you single and think that having an estate plan is unnecessary? Or maybe you just never thought about planning your estate at all? Even if you are unmarried with a significant other, there are still advantages to having a solid estate plan in place. As you get closer to retirement, it is a good…
While people worldwide—and especially the millennials among us—mourn the death of Luke Perry, meager solace exists in knowing that those closest to the Beverly Hills 90210 star need not worry about fulfilling his last wishes. Unlike two thirds of adults, Perry had put his estate in order before his tragic and untimely passing. Ask any…
When setting up an estate plan, it is often beneficial to set up a trust. But do you know which trust—living or testamentary—to execute? The two main types of trusts are living trusts and testamentary trusts. A living trust is in effect during the testator’s life, but a testamentary trust only goes into effect after…
Congratulations on becoming a new parent! You’ve gone through your new parent checklist and crossed off all the to-dos. Have a wonderful baby name? Check. Baby-proofed the house? Check. Got cradle and diapers? Check. Got an estate plan in place? Estate planning is not just for the rich and famous. Rather, it is something that…
It’s the beginning of the New Year and, if you’re like most other people, you’ve probably made some resolutions. Eat healthier, exercise more, quit smoking, save money, or maybe even finally get around to planning your estate. Great! Making a resolution to get your estate planning affairs in order is a big first step. But…