Blog
Notes on planning for the people you love
Wills, trusts, guardians, long-term care, and the questions families ask most.
Second Marriage? Here’s How to Plan for Your Spouse and Your Children.
You have made room in your life for love again. There are new routines, more birthdays to remember, and people at your table who were not there a few…
Your Passwords Are Not Your Plan. Here’s What Your Family Needs
“Can you show me where to find that?” is a simple question until you are the person who cannot answer it. Your spouse is sitting at the kitchen table…
Should I Name My Spouse or My Trust as My Life Insurance Beneficiary?
You bought the policy because someone depends on you. That was an act of care, even if it felt like one more form to finish between work, dinner, and…
Spouses With a Joint Trust: What Happens If You Die Days Apart?
You and your spouse planned for one of you to carry on. You named each other as beneficiaries and talked about how the survivor would care for your…
Should You Leave an Inheritance in Trust for Adult Children?
Your daughter is a physician with a growing practice. Your son is an attorney on the path to partnership. Your youngest built a company that now…
“Can Medicaid take the house?”
For many families, the home is not just an asset on paper. It is the place where babies were brought home, birthday candles were blown out, holiday…
You Have Life Insurance. Here’s What Your Family Actually Needs.
You bought the policy when your first child was born. You chose an amount that felt enormous, named your spouse, added the premium to autopay, and…
Your Trust Could Reach the 37% Tax Bracket at Just $16,000
You did the work. You saved for retirement, signed a trust, and named beneficiaries because you wanted the people you love to be protected. That…
You Made a Will. Here’s What It Can’t Do.
You did it. Maybe Make-A-Will Month finally moved it to the top of your list. Maybe you've been meaning to get this done for years and this was the…
The Cosby Show Made Him Famous. His Estate Plan Failed His Family. Here’s What I Would Have Done.
When I heard about Tenisha Warner's lawsuit, my first thought wasn't about the celebrity angle. It was: I've seen this before. Not the exact same…
Make-A-Will Month Is Here. But a Will Isn't a Plan.
A family called me after losing their mother. She had a will, properly signed and perfectly valid. But it didn't tell anyone who had legal authority…
Friends Don't Let Friends Go Without an Estate Plan
Before you can have this conversation well, it helps to understand why so many smart, caring, responsible people still don't have an estate plan.…