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What Happens to All Your Stuff When You Die? (And Why Your Family Is Dreading It) | PFL ®

You open the door to your parents' home for the first time since the funeral. Closets stuffed with decade...

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Latest Articles

There is no shortage of advice flying around about estate planning, much of it from people who aren't even lawyers. Get insight on the popular pitfalls and how emerging economic shifts like cryptocurrency can affect your plan.

Appoint a Guardian to Keep Your Kids In Safe Hands At All Times

Probably every parent who has watched the news lately has felt the heartbreak over what’s happening to im...

Guardianship and Trusts for Children with Special Needs | PFL®

It always surprises me to hear parents who have a child with special needs tell me that they were not awa...

Thicke’s Estate Shows Importance of Properly Drafted and Updated Estate Plans

In the 1980s, the late actor Alan Thicke played the wise-but-hip father figure and psychiatrist Dr. Jason...

Understanding Guardianship: Protecting Loved Ones from Incapacity | PFL®

Whether through illness, injury, or other means, anyone can require a guardian to become appointed if the...

My mother died with credit card debt. Am I responsible for paying that debt?

Q: My mother recently died with lots of credit card debt. Am I responsible for paying that debt? -Worried...

Safeguard Your Cryptocurrency Assets With Estate Planning

One of the biggest appeals of cryptocurrency, like Bitcoin, is that it is decentralized, unregulated, and...

I Don’t Have Kids, So Why Do I Need Estate Planning? Part 2

Last week, we shared the first part of our series on the importance of estate planning for those without ...

I Don’t Have Kids, So Why Do I Need Estate Planning? Part 1

It’s a common misconception to think that if you don’t have children, you don’t need to worry about estat...

Ensure the Security of Your Senior Parents' Identity and Financial Assets

Today, we live in an uber-connected world, where nearly every type of financial transaction—shopping, ban...

6 Steps to Select and Name the Right Guardians for Your Children—Part 2

Last week, we shared the first part of our series on selecting and naming the right guardians for your ch...

How does a living will work?

Q: How does a living will work? —Confused A: Dear Confused: Though it can be easy to confuse a “living wi...

6 Steps to Select and Name the Right Guardians for Your Children—Part 1

One of your most important responsibilities as a parent is to select and legally document guardians for y...

Estate Planning Mistakes Seniors Can’t Afford to Make

Estate planning really should be considered as soon as you acquire your first asset, have a child, or ste...

The Key Differences Between Wills and Trusts

When discussing estate planning, a will is what most people think of first. Indeed, wills have been the m...

How and When to Talk to Your Children About Money

Whether you consider yourself wealthy or not, you need to think about how (and when) you’ll talk with you...

What is long-term care insurance?

Q: What is long-term care insurance? —Unsure A: Dear Unsure: Long-term care (LTC) insurance covers your b...

Before Your Kids Leave For College, Make Sure They Sign These Documents

With high school graduation coming up, many parents will soon watch their children become adults (at leas...

3 Key Benefits of Conscious Uncoupling

The concept of conscious uncoupling, or conscious divorce, has been around for decades in the psychothera...

Estate Planning Tips for Ensuring Your Pets Are Properly Cared For

It’s sad but true that many pets end up in shelters after their owner dies or becomes incapacitated. In f...

Choosing the Right Life Insurance Policy

While purchasing life insurance may seem pretty straightforward, it’s actually quite complex, especially ...

Estate Planning Best Practices Gleaned From Famous Celebrity Deaths

Discussing death can be awkward, and many people would prefer just to ignore estate planning all together...

What is digital estate planning?

Q: What is digital estate planning? —Wondering A: Dear Wondering: Digital estate planning involves protec...

Common Estate Planning Issues for a Second (or More) Marriage

These days, second and even third marriages are fairly commonplace. And the estate planning issues that a...

Same-Gender Couples Fighting for Parental Rights Can Use Estate Planning

In 2015, when the Supreme Court ruled that same-gender couples had the right to marry, the LGBTQ communit...

How Will the New Tax Law Affect Your Family?

President Trump signed the new Tax Cuts and Jobs Act bill into law on December 22, 2017, and the law incl...

Naming Multiple Beneficiaries on Your Life Insurance Policy | PFL®

Q: Can I name multiple beneficiaries on my life insurance policy? --Curious A: Dear Curious: There are se...

5 Common Estate Planning Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Since estate planning involves thinking about death, many people put it off until their senior years or s...

What to Expect From Your Initial Meeting With Your Personal Family Lawyer®

Whether you’ve met with an estate planning attorney before or it’s your first time, it’s important to und...

4 Warning Signs Your Elderly Relative Faces Financial Abuse | PFL®

Some of the most disturbing crimes against the elderly involve financial exploitation. While physical abu...

Retirement Planning: Suze Orman's Age Advice | PFL

If you’re middle aged or older, it’s likely that one of your most pressing concerns is not having enough ...

The Real Planned Parenthood: Platonic Parenting

Divorce can be one of the most unpleasant—and often traumatic—experiences of your life, especially if you...

4 Cryptocurrency Risks and Scams and How to Navigate Them — Part 2

Last week, we shared the first part of our series on cryptocurrency risks and scams, and if you haven’t r...

Can My Will Be Contested?

Q: Can my will be contested? Concerned testator-- A: Dear Concerned: Creating a will should give you peac...

4 Cryptocurrency Risks and Scams and How to Navigate Them — Part 1

It’s no secret that Bitcoin and other brands of cryptocurrency are one of the hottest new investment oppo...

New Bill is Potential Game Changer for Your Family’s Tax Strategy

UPDATE: The new tax bill has been signed into law, so for information on the bill's final provisions and ...

Pay For a Loved One’s Education With an Education Trust Fund | PFL®

Today’s parents are all too familiar with the budget-busting cost of funding a child’s college education....

Want to Be an Awesome Parent? Stop Stressing and Spend More Time on Self-Care

All parents have undoubtedly felt guilty at some point for not spending enough time with their children. ...

What Will Happen to My Pet in a Natural Disaster?

Q: What will happen to my pet in a natural disaster? Pet Parent-- A: Dear Pet Parent: In the wake of natu...

Tax Benefits of Buying a Second Home

Buying a second home can provide you with a place to relax, unwind, and escape from it all. It can also p...

Ready to Write Your Will? Consider This Before You Go It Alone or Online.

A last will and testament is the most commonly thought of document when it comes to an estate plan. But, ...

Managing Excess Belongings: A Guide for the Downsizing Generation | PFL®

As the baby boomer generation ages—and downsizes—more and more adult children will be tasked with going t...

Weathering the Storm: How Families Can Plan for Natural Disasters

Planning for natural disasters is more than just stocking up on canned food and water. In a natural disas...

How Can Snowbirding Help Me Save on Taxes?

Q: How can snowbirding help me save on taxes? Recent Retiree-- A: Dear Retiree: Snowbirding is a great wa...

How to Ensure Your Pets Are Protected in the Event of Your Death or Incapacity

If you have pets, you probably want to make sure they are well-taken care of, if anything happens to you....

The Ten Richest Families in America and Their Rise to Riches

Self-made millionaires are not uncommon in the dotcom era, but their fortunes pale in comparison to those...

The Pitfalls of DIY Wills: Lessons Learned from a Florida Probate Case

DIY wills are becoming more prevalent as legal services can now be accessed easily online. For better or ...

Easy Mistakes to Avoid When Passing Assets to Your Child

Setting up a trust fund for your children can ensure that the money you are leaving behind for them is ta...

What Does Transfer on Death Mean?

Q: What does transfer on death mean? Prudent Planner-- A: Dear Prudent: Transfer on death (TOD) is a meth...

What to Do With Surplus Cash: Pay Down Debt, Spend or Invest?

When you come into a cash surplus from a company bonus, a tax refund, an inheritance or something similar...

How Legal Planning Helps Build a Strong Blended Family

Yours, mine and ours … in today’s modern family, it’s oh so common. The blended family is the product of ...

Financial + Legal Planning for Unmarried Couples: Should You Legally Marry or Not?

While the Supreme Court issued a landmark decision to legalize same-sex marriage in the U.S. making it po...

Planning Pays Off: An Illustrative Look at Carrie Fisher’s Semi-Failed Estate Plan

Whether your estate is modest or movie star worthy, the value of a good estate plan, properly handled, ca...

What’s the best way to save for college?

Q: What’s the best way to save for college? --Planning Parent A: Dear Planning: Saving for college is a d...

Navigating Transfer on Death Deeds and Living Trusts | PFL

Perhaps you’ve heard from a well-meaning friend or advisor that you can use an inexpensive Transfer on De...

How to Buy Life Insurance Like a Pro | PFL®

Life insurance is a purchase only made once or twice in a lifetime, so it is common to be unaware of the ...

Planning to Protect Your Assets

Asset protection planning is an important step to take in safeguarding your hard-earned assets from being...

Bitcoin, Ethereum, and the Blockchain -- What Happens When You Die?

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve probably heard about Bitcoin. But, you may not know what i...

The Real Cost of Caring

Dealing with the financial stressors of caring for an aging loved one can affect your ability to provide ...

Do I need my estate planning documents reviewed by an attorney?

Q: Do I need my estate planning documents reviewed by an attorney? --Estate Planning Novice A: Dear Novic...

How “Shopping Around” for An Estate Plan Could Leave Your Family With an Expensive, Unintended Mess

Maybe you’ve heard that before investing in a professional service you should “get three estimates.” Whil...

Think Your Salary Can Bring You Safely to Retirement? Think Again.

In the sea of financial planning wisdom, there are too few messages about the importance of mindset. Gone...

Divorcing? Here's What You Should Know About How it May Affect Your Trust

Trusts vary in their structure, funding, and terms, so it’s hard to know how divorce will impact your tru...

Tax Lessons to be Learned from Celebrity Estate Plans

A celebrity's image and likeness can continue to produce considerable income after death. This type of in...

Why You Should Never Buy Your Will From Living Social or Groupon

Of the handful of major life events that require your serious consideration, few are as emotionally charg...

What is a revocable living trust?

Q: What is a revocable living trust? --Conscientious Planner A: Dear Conscientious: Revocable living trus...

Facing Grief After the Death of a Loved One Can Be the Key to a Life of Health and Wholeness

If you have ever met someone who repeatedly sabotaged their life or seemed to have a hard time moving thi...

The Unexpected Costs of Caring for Elderly Parents In Your Home

Multi-generational households are becoming the new (or maybe it’s really old) in vogue way to handle the ...

Growing Family? Time to Audit Your Insurance Policies

As your family size grows, there is lots to prepare for and consider. Welcoming a new family member can b...

Your Rights as the Parent of a Young Adult - What to Know When a Medical Crisis Hits

As a parent, you are most likely quite accustomed to managing the legal and medical affairs of your child...

Commit to Your Estate Plan Before Committing to a Trip Away

If you are planning a vacation, you probably have a lot to prepare for before you get away. Between struc...

How should I update my estate plan before I remarry?

Q: How should I update my estate plan before I remarry? -Betrothed spouse to be A: Dear Betrothed: Everyo...

What Happens to Your Body When You Die? The Choice Can Be Yours

Many of us are too afraid of death to carefully consider what happens to our bodies after we die. Unfortu...

How (and Why) to Disinherit a Child or Grandchild | PFL®

Completely disinheriting a child or grandchild should be reserved for extreme circumstances. And, if thos...

Recently Divorced? Here’s Why You Should Put Aside Your Differences Come Tax Season

Divorce can wreak havoc on your finances. But what many divorced couples don’t realize is that they can e...

Generational Wisdom: 32 Questions To Learn From Your Loved Ones | PFL®

What can we learn from earlier generations? Quite a bit, says Brendon Burchard, but only if we ask the ri...

Decisions for Incapacitated Persons Without a Living Will | PFL®

Q: How are decisions made for an incapacitated person without a living will? --Concerned family member A:...

Leaving Without a Plan: Prince Didn't Leave a Will & Here's Why You Should

Even after death, celebrities are highly publicized for their mistakes, many of which we make ourselves. ...

Defining the Legal Relationship Between Grandparents and Their Grandchildren

Raising a grandchild (or even spending a lot of time with your grandchild while his or her parents work) ...

How Can I Plan for a Strategic Retirement?

Are you approaching retirement? Not sure how you can ensure a smooth transition from working life to reti...

The Future of Finances: How to Teach Your Kids to Be Money Savvy

Part of being an enlightened parent is being thoughtful about how we teach our kids about adult life. Of ...

What is legal guardianship?

Q: What is legal guardianship? --Concerned parent A: Dear Concerned: Broadly defined, a legal guardian is...

When Duty Calls: Navigating the Sandwich Generation with Ease

The average age of parents raising children in the US continues to rise, leaving many middle-aged America...

Spring Cleaning For Your Legal and Financial Affairs

Spring has officially sprung and that means it’s spring cleaning time. Shake out the rugs, clean out the ...

Think Your 401(k) Is Flexible? 6 IRA Benefits Your 401(k) Doesn’t Have

When it comes to retirement plans, IRAs and 401(k)s provide many of the same benefits. But in certain sit...

Watch Out for This Predatory Phone Scam

Today, even the most conscientious can fall victim to phone scams. Claiming everything from free cruise v...

Estate Planning and Divorce: Incapacity, Death and Alimony Considerations

If you are considering a divorce, it’s critical to understand the impact of your divorce on what would ha...

How can I provide for my pet in my estate planning?

Q: How can I provide for my pet in my estate planning? --Concerned Pet Owner A: Dear Concerned: Many peop...

Estate Planning Essentials for Parents

A comprehensive estate plan can protect the things that matter most. For many, this means their property ...

Planning for the Care of Your Pet: How to Include Your Pet in Your Estate Plan

If your pet is beloved as a family member, you likely want to ensure that he or she will be well cared fo...

Estate Taxes in Trump’s America

Donald Trump has proposed a radical tax reform agenda for his presidency. Part of this reform is his inte...

(Re)Defining Family: Estate Planning for the Post-Nuclear Family

Blended families, unmarried couples, assistive reproductive technology (ART) and same-sex unions and marr...

What will happen to my assets when I die?

Q: What will happen to my assets when I die? --Concerned Family Member A: Dear Concerned: Many people won...

How to Make Your First Million by Age 40

Being in your 20s or 30s doesn’t mean financial success is decades away. In fact, earning big money is of...

Does Your Parent Need Help With Finances? Start Here

Caring for an aging parent is a common challenge for Baby Boomers, and now even Gen-X’ers and Millennials...

Three Health Care Documents You Need to Include in Your Estate Plan

Decisions about your health care are some of the most important you will ever make. Don’t put off making ...

How to Incorporate Family Values in Your Estate Planning

Baby boomers know money isn’t the only important aspect of estate planning. A 2012 study released by the ...

How a Personal Injury Lawsuit Affects My Government Benefits? | PFL®

Q: How can a personal injury lawsuit or other settlement affect my government benefits? --Concerned Plain...

Power of Attorney - What is it and Is it Enough?

Power of attorney (POA) is a document that grants a specific person, called an agent, the authority to ma...

How Common Assets Impact Your Child's Financial Aid Eligibility | PFL®

Financial aid is a valuable resource for students and their families. And sending a child off to college ...

Is Your Family “Too Young” to Need an Estate Plan?

Young families face different estate planning needs and challenges than those who have had a long life be...

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