Awakened Planning: How to Talk About Estate Planning at Your Family Reunion
September 11, 2024
July is National Family Reunion Month and the perfect time to reconnect with family from near and far, sh...
Read MoreJuly is National Family Reunion Month and the perfect time to reconnect with family from near and far, sh...
Read MoreThere 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.
July is National Family Reunion Month and the perfect time to reconnect with family from near and far, sh...
Vacations are a time to relax, unwind, and create beautiful memories with your loved ones. But before you...
May is Senior Citizen’s Month, a time to reflect and appreciate all the things the seniors in our lives h...
If you are going to take investment and estate planning advice from anyone, Warren Buffett is likely one ...
Whether you’re turning on the news or scrolling through Instagram, it’s hard not to hear about AI technol...
Investing in life insurance is a foundational part of estate planning, and when done right it’s a primary...
When it comes to estate planning and wills, you have a variety of options for legal documents. The most c...
The environmental costs of death are significant and constantly rising. With 8 billion people on the plan...
If you earn a good living now, but you worry about not having enough money for a future time when you can...
With the cost of a funeral averaging between $7,000 and $12,000 and steadily increasing each year, at the...
Following the death of a loved one, close family members are sometimes surprised to learn that they didn’...
When you think about loved ones who’ve passed away, you probably don’t think very much—or even at all—abo...
Over just the last two years, we’ve seen historic levels of damage caused by natural disasters in the U.S...
Whether you’ve met with an estate planning lawyer before or it’s your first time, it’s important to under...
If you are running a business, it’s easy to give estate planning less priority than your other business m...
Do a Google search for “digital wills” or “online estate planning,” and you’ll find dozens of different w...
Do a Google search for “digital wills” or “online estate planning,” and you’ll find dozens of different w...
No matter how well you think you know your loved ones, it’s impossible to predict exactly how they’ll beh...
When it comes to estate planning, most people automatically think about taking legal steps to ensure the ...
This article is part two of a two-part series on the benefits of putting your home in a trust. Part one o...
Our nation’s population is aging at a faster rate than ever before, and collectively we are living much l...
When it comes to estate planning, you’ve most likely heard people mention a couple of different types of ...
The pandemic has caused Americans to change their behavior in a number of different ways, and one of the ...
Even if you put a totally solid estate plan in place, it can turn out to be worthless for the people you ...
Yours, mine and ours … in today’s modern family, it’s oh so common. The blended family is the product of ...
If you are a single parent, life for you right now probably couldn’t get any busier. You are likely being...
Recent advances in digital technology have made many aspects of our lives exponentially easier and more c...
Recent advances in digital technology have made many aspects of our lives exponentially easier and more c...
Since the age of 16, when she burst onto the charts with her debut single, “...Hit Me Baby One More Time,...
Since the age of 16, when she burst onto the charts with her debut single, “...Hit Me Baby One More Time,...
When you are a kid, finding a suitable gift for Father’s Day can be a struggle. You want to get Dad somet...
With the arrival of summer, young people across the country are about to reach a key milestone: high scho...
As we head into the peak of wedding season, if you are a newlywed or are about to tie the knot, add “esta...
As we head into the peak of wedding season, if you are a newlywed or are about to tie the knot, add “esta...
Although we initially planned to run part two of last week’s post on Aretha Franklin’s failed estate plan...
A last will and testament is the most commonly thought-of document when it comes to an estate plan. But r...
Signed into law on March 11th, President Biden’s $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARP) is ...
Signed into law on March 11th, President Biden’s $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARP) is ...
Even though there are now vaccines for the pandemic and the number of new cases is on the decline, becomi...
Even though there are now vaccines for COVID-19 and the number of new cases is on the decline, becoming i...
If you use Facebook to share, track, and report on important life events, it can provide an intimate snap...
Although you likely won’t need to have an entirely new estate plan prepared for you, upon relocating to a...
With COVID-19 still raging, your 2020 holiday season may not feature the big family get-togethers of year...
Since you’ll be discussing topics like death, incapacity, and other frightening life events, hiring an es...
Since you’ll be discussing topics like death, incapacity, and other frightening life events, hiring an es...
While estate planning is probably one of the last things your teenage kids are thinking about, given the ...
In response to a series of wildfires that ravaged Southern California in 2017, we wrote a previous articl...
In the first part of this series, we discussed the vital importance of having updated advance directives ...
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to ravage the country, doctors across the nation are joining lawyers i...
There’s nothing like a major change in the economic climate to make you rethink your day job. “Business a...
Maybe you, like many of us, have been raised to think that the safest way to live in the working world is...
With the risks still posed by COVID-19, we all need to face the possibility that we could get sick, even ...
The pandemic is causing us to consider a lot of things that we may not have before, even if maybe we shou...
It’s the beginning of the month, and bills are coming due. If you are stressed out, it’s important that y...
While it’s still hard to tell how the Coronavirus will impact us in the long term, it’s become a subject ...
As you no doubt already know, on January 26, 2020, basketball legend Kobe Bryant was killed in a helicopt...
Both wills and trusts are estate planning documents that can be used to pass your wealth and property to ...
Investing in life insurance is a foundational part of estate planning. However, when naming your policy’s...
In the first part of this series, we discussed the early warning signs of diminished financial capacity i...
With more and more Baby Boomers reaching retirement age each year, our country is undergoing an unprecede...
Although digital technology has made many aspects of our lives much easier and more convenient, it has al...
Watching your kids leave home to attend college or start their career can be an emotional time for you as...
As we head towards the end of the year, we’re fast approaching the deadline to implement your family’s ta...
Following the death of the policy holder, the way in which proceeds from a life insurance policy are paid...
When you think about those loved ones who’ve passed away, you probably don’t think very much—or even at a...
Elder abuse can take a wide variety of forms, but we think the worst of the worst is caused by unscrupulo...
If you were to suddenly die today, would your loved ones know how to quickly find your estate planning do...
Last week, we discussed the benefits of a unique estate planning vehicle known as Lifetime Asset Protecti...
In a recent Facebook post “Processes to go through with your parents before they die,” Daniel Schmachtenb...
This is the second in an ongoing series of NLBM articles discussing the true costs and consequences of fa...
No matter how well you think you know your loved ones, it’s impossible to predict exactly how they’ll beh...
Nobody likes to admit they’ve fallen for a financial scam, but the fact is, it’s easier than ever to get ...
This is the first in an ongoing series of NLBM articles discussing the true costs and consequences of fai...
In the first part of this series, we discussed the first three of six questions you should ask yourself w...
Selecting a beneficiary for your life insurance policy sounds pretty straightforward. You’re just decidin...
In late February, Luke Perry, who became famous starring in the 1990s TV series Beverly Hills 90210, suff...
Even if you put a totally solid estate plan in place, it can end up proving worthless if it’s not properl...
In the first part of this series, we discussed how today’s children are increasingly influenced more by t...
Have you ever felt that the unbreakable bond you once had with your children is seriously eroding? It can...
With the cost of a funeral averaging $7,000 and steadily increasing each year, every estate plan should i...
With the holiday season here, you’re probably spending lots of time with your family and friends. During ...
It’s the middle of the night. The authorities just notified you that you have 20 minutes to evacuate your...
From wildfires in California and hurricanes in Texas to floods in West Virginia, hardly any area of the U...
While some of those TV commercials for free credit-score report companies are pretty funny, having errors...
In the weeks before her death from ovarian cancer, author Amy Krouse Rosenthal gave her husband Jason one...
Want to know a proven way to live a more fulfilling life? All you have to do is fully accept the fact tha...
It’s no secret that we live in a litigious society. And though our right to a fair trial is one of the ha...
If you’re active on social media, Facebook probably plays a prominent role in your life. And now the soci...
Unlike many estate assets, if you’re looking to collect the proceeds of a life insurance policy, the proc...
Last week, we shared the first part of this series explaining the powers and duties that come with servin...
If a friend or family member has asked you to serve as trustee for their trust upon their death, you shou...
Whether through illness, injury, or other means, anyone can require a guardian to become appointed if the...
Whether you consider yourself wealthy or not, you need to think about how (and when) you’ll talk with you...
It’s sad but true that many pets end up in shelters after their owner dies or becomes incapacitated. In f...
While purchasing life insurance may seem pretty straightforward, it’s actually quite complex, especially ...
Some of the most disturbing crimes against the elderly involve financial exploitation. While physical abu...
If you’re middle aged or older, it’s likely that one of your most pressing concerns is not having enough ...
Last week, we shared the first part of our series on cryptocurrency risks and scams, and if you haven’t r...
It’s no secret that Bitcoin and other brands of cryptocurrency are one of the hottest new investment oppo...
All parents have undoubtedly felt guilty at some point for not spending enough time with their children. ...
As the baby boomer generation ages—and downsizes—more and more adult children will be tasked with going t...
Planning for natural disasters is more than just stocking up on canned food and water. In a natural disas...
Yours, mine and ours … in today’s modern family, it’s oh so common. The blended family is the product of ...
While the Supreme Court issued a landmark decision to legalize same-sex marriage in the U.S. making it po...
In the sea of financial planning wisdom, there are too few messages about the importance of mindset. Gone...
If you have ever met someone who repeatedly sabotaged their life or seemed to have a hard time moving thi...
Multi-generational households are becoming the new (or maybe it’s really old) in vogue way to handle the ...
As a parent, you are most likely quite accustomed to managing the legal and medical affairs of your child...
Many of us are too afraid of death to carefully consider what happens to our bodies after we die. Unfortu...
Completely disinheriting a child or grandchild should be reserved for extreme circumstances. And, if thos...
What can we learn from earlier generations? Quite a bit, says Brendon Burchard, but only if we ask the ri...
Spring has officially sprung and that means it’s spring cleaning time. Shake out the rugs, clean out the ...
Today, even the most conscientious can fall victim to phone scams. Claiming everything from free cruise v...
If your pet is beloved as a family member, you likely want to ensure that he or she will be well cared fo...
Being in your 20s or 30s doesn’t mean financial success is decades away. In fact, earning big money is of...
Decisions about your health care are some of the most important you will ever make. Don’t put off making ...
Baby boomers know money isn’t the only important aspect of estate planning. A 2012 study released by the ...
Financial aid is a valuable resource for students and their families. And sending a child off to college ...
Young families face different estate planning needs and challenges than those who have had a long life be...
In Steve Jobs’ 2005 commencement speech at Stanford University, he said: “Remembering that I’ll be dead s...
Too many estate plans are created and then quickly forgotten, put on a shelf, and never looked at again. ...
In our last newsletter, we shared the first part of our article on how to discuss estate planning with ag...
Someone you love is aging. Or maybe, facing a potentially terminal illness. And you know it’s time for th...
Bhutan is an independent state in Southeast Asia, bordered by China to the north and India to the south. ...
Even if you do not have an estate plan that you’ve created, the State has one for you. And it’s likely on...
In anticipation of the election and in response to public demand, Hillary and Bill Clinton have released ...
Just as it is difficult for many of us to talk about our ultimate death, it is also difficult for doctors...
The quality of the education a child receives through public or private school systems can vary greatly. ...
One of the hardest things to do as a human being is to acknowledge our mortality. Some people even seem t...
When all is ideal in a family, the bond between grandparent and child is a special one. Maybe you’ve even...
Electronic technology has brought about tremendous benefits for today’s society. We can access goods, ser...
This is your letter of permission to go ahead and simply love your children. Put down those expectations ...
If you have money invested in the stock market, whether through a retirement account or a straight broker...
If you’re like me, you want to leave an inheritance for your children. It’s likely part of what you are w...
Most of us want to make a mark in the world. That’s a big part of what gives our lives meaning. And wheth...
Pick up the latest copy of just about any business magazine, and you’re likely to find at least one artic...
If you have ever wondered about the impact your body will have on the environment when you are gone, you ...
How often do you wish you knew more about your family? When we’re young, we don’t necessarily pay attenti...
When you picture a “normal” family, what do you see? Is it the traditional notion of one male parent and ...
People who are nearing the age of 65 should be making plans for the transition from private health care t...
Laws and rules are created within organized societies to regulate interaction and protect citizens. A cla...
Elder Care is emerging as a significant issue for many people as life spans continue to increase. It is n...
If you are like most parents, your primary objective is to support your children to be prepared to handle...
When we pick up our prescriptions, we take the containers for granted. By contrast, in many countries med...
Those of us who work sometimes feel that we are doing our children a disservice. Sure, we bring home a pa...
You’ve spent your entire life building up your retirement account. It may even be the biggest asset you’l...
Have you given any thought to how emergency medical care providers know who to contact or what to do if y...
Many of us like to fantasize about winning the lottery. We muse with our friends about how we might spend...
Did you know there are many steps that you can take to save money via your employment? Some of these stra...
To many people, living debt-free is a lifelong dream. It’s the picture of the easy life. Retired with no ...
It seems that we can’t turn on the television or radio without hearing an ad for a “reverse mortgage.” So...
Is it time to have “the talk” with your kids? We’re not talking about a “birds and bees” talk but one tha...
For those of us who have pets that would be left behind after we die, there may be a desire to make arran...
To some degree or another, we are all a function of the social environments in which we were raised. Of c...
Did you get a holiday bonus from your employer? Or maybe you have a tax refund coming. If so, do you have...
As our parents and other loved ones age, they may need a little more attention from us. Parents, grandpar...
January 1 wipes the slate clean for your tax deductible charitable contributions. That might be a good ti...
A Wisconsin woman, whose story was widely reported in media nationwide, has died. Heather McManamy, who w...
The National Institute on Retirement Security states that the funds American workers have set aside for r...
Class action lawsuits are common in our court systems. Most everyone has received a notice in the mail of...
Welcome back to the fourth and final article in our series on How to Raise Responsible Kids. You can read...
Welcome back to the third article in our series on How to Raise Responsible Kids. You can read part 1, wh...
Welcome back to the second article in our series on How to Raise Responsible Kids. You can read part 1, w...
My guess is that if we did a poll of every parent we know and asked them what they most want for their ki...
The practice of burying our dead in the ground has been traced back over 100,000 years ago. For the vast ...
As a parent, your number one job is to keep your children safe, and that’s not always easy. In our imperf...
The holidays are traditionally the time for family gatherings, where generations come together and perfor...
Many parents want to know the best way to leave a home to their children. Before you make a plan, you sho...
How do you want to die? Do you want lifesaving treatments to be administered even if all brain activity h...
In June, the United States Supreme Court issued its decision in Obergefell v. Hodges, a highly publicized...
A trust is a legal creation set up to benefit someone or something. For example, some people set up trust...
If you own your home or you’ve been renting so long that this information is old hat to you, consider sha...
When you have a family member with special needs, it is important to understand that your estate planning...
The passing of family heirlooms from one generation to another should be welcome tradition in most famili...
It’s no secret that a majority of Americans are ill-prepared for retirement. A recent Forbes.com post det...
If you’re like most Americans, you have a rich digital life. You may bank online, invest online and certa...
Traditionally, one of the primary reasons for establishing a living trust has been to avoid probate. But ...
A 2010 study conducted by the Investor Protection Trust found that more than seven million older American...
Current research shows that only about half of Americans have a will, and probably less than that have ch...
Once you have chosen the people you want to receive any of your assets -- either from a will, a trust, a ...
April 15 is not only the deadline for filing your state and federal income tax returns, but also the dead...
The recession made many parents and grandparents into personal bankers, making loans to strapped children...
Currently, it is estimated that 7 in 10 Americans will need some type of long-term care, with Medicaid ex...
A drama currently playing out in a French courtroom demonstrates that any elderly person can fall victim ...
Alzheimer’s Disease is in the news again thanks to Academy Award winner Julianne Moore’s performance in t...
When you hear the words, “trust fund,” do you conjure up images of stately mansions and party yachts? A t...
When your children were small, you no doubt suffered the challenge of keeping peace in the family. We see...
There are many goals most of us want to accomplish in life, and some of the most important ones center on...
Famous comedienne, Joan Rivers, who died unexpectedly on September 4, 2014, from what is alleged to be a ...
Not many people would view the IRS as a charitable organization, but you might if you plan your gifting a...
Families of those with disabilities - physical or mental - are typically concerned with the best way to f...
One of the uncomfortable moments of life for many people is when they try to address automobile ownership...
A person who turns 65 today has a 70% chance of needing some type of long-term care at some time in their...
Take a moment and consider how much of your life you live online. If you are like most of us, you bank, p...
Creating an estate plan to protect your financial future and that of your family is just the first step i...
According to the Investment Company Institute, the use of IRAs for retirement saving has increased in the...
Parents of children with special needs usually share one overriding concern: what will happen to my child...
If you have grandchildren - or are getting ready to welcome one like political power couple Bill and Hill...
Inherited wealth need not be “an albatross around the neck of the children” as Sting so succinctly put it...
When we think of vast family wealth, most of us know the name Cornelius Vanderbilt, the railroad and ship...
You bring your children into the world with love. You raise them with love. If you’re going all the way a...
As hard as it is for all of us to “plan” for our deaths, doing so is one of the best things you can do fo...
While most parents have the best intentions when it comes to teaching their children about handling finan...
Maria Shriver knows the devastation of Alzheimer’s disease firsthand. Her beloved father Sargent Shriver,...
It’s no surprise that Americans spend more time planning their summer vacations than they do planning the...
If you have young children, chances are that your summer activities include some careful planning to keep...
Rock musician Sting recently announced that his children will not inherit his estimated $300 million fort...
If you’re the parent of a high school graduate this year, congratulations! You’ve put in a lot of time an...
Do you know what it takes to be a real man? Although the expectations of both men and women have evolved ...
A new study from the Boston College Center on Wealth and Philanthropy shows that the greatest wealth tran...
Summer has officially arrived and for those of us fortunate enough to have a vacation home – whether it’s...
One of the most striking aspects of the recent opening of the National September 11 Memorial & Museum...
Most parents love their children unconditionally and want to do whatever they can to smooth life’s rough ...
The perfect gift for your child or grandchild on the occasion of their birth, Bar or Bat Mitzvah, Sweet 1...
If you are like most Americans, you will probably be spending at least some of your vacation time this su...
A recent article in the New York Post about brothers battling over a painting from their uncle’s estate s...
With just over 50,000 residents, La Crosse is a lot like other small American towns – but there is one th...
Pediatrician Dr. Bill Sears is the author of more than 30 books on childcare, has appeared on dozens of n...
Baby boomers are set to inherit up to $8.4 trillion over the next 15 years, according to The Center for R...
If you have been responsible enough to purchase a life insurance policy as added protection for your love...
Everyone agreed on one thing: Marlise Munoz was dead. The 33-year-old Texas wife, mother and paramedic go...
If you are fortunate enough to have a family vacation home, you know the emotional value it holds for eve...
A recent Wall Street Journal article noted that boomers and seniors are more interested in passing along ...
Everyone’s “to-do” lists seem to grow longer at this time of year, but yours is incomplete until you ask ...
Do you consider trusts to be instruments of the wealthy? While it is true that many Americans of means ha...
According to a recent Forbes article, Americans donated more than $316 billion to charity last year – and...
Most of us who have a pet consider them to be a part of the family; unfortunately, the plans we may have ...
We know that no one likes to think about death, especially their own. Which is why many people procrastin...
For many people, the basics of estate planning are simple enough, but for those families with loved ones ...
We are fast approaching the holidays, when travel is the busiest and careful planning is necessary to nab...
If you came to this page to find out what I’ll charge you for a Will or you are considering calling me (o...
A recent Economist article says a “perfect storm” of the poor economy of the past few years, resulting in...
If you are like most of the parents I know, you feel guilty. It’s what parents do. Whether your guilt is ...
In June, the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in United States v. Windsor invalidated the federal Defense of Mar...
Three-day weekends like the Labor Day just passed give us all the tiniest snippet of a glimpse into what ...
A new trend in identity theft – afterlife identity theft – is on the rise, with thieves scouring obituari...
Research shows that a majority of baby boomers will receive an inheritance at some time during the lives,...
Seth Godin is a well known and oft-quoted American entrepreneur who has authored 13 best sellers that hav...
According to a 2011 McAfee study, Americans value the digital assets they own across multiple digital dev...
Recently, 11 major life insurance companies agreed to pay $763 million to the heirs of deceased policyhol...
It’s summer and that means more teen drivers on the road. Statistics show teens have twice as many accide...
When you were a kid, your parents dreaded the talk they had to have with you. You know the one. Well, now...
If you make a mistake in naming beneficiaries for your life insurance policy, the people you love will en...
Unfortunately, money has a habit of bringing out the worst in people, even in the best of families. One o...
A will is one of the most basic estate planning documents, and everyone should have one to make sure that...
By now, the flood of floral commercials has already reminded us that Mother’s Day is Sunday, May 12. But ...
Retirement decision-making for boomers is very different than it was for our parents, when it was usually...
The digital afterlife debate over who owns the online assets of someone who has died has been in the news...
Every single adult needs to have an advance health care directive written, signed and in place. This incl...
Many parents perceive a conflict between funding a child’s college education and building their own retir...
In the process of becoming new parents, many couples become experts at planning – scheduling the birthing...
While the fiscal cliff tax deal cut by Congress last month targeted primarily higher wage earners, every ...
Most of us conduct a lot of our personal business online these days, so the necessity of being savvy when...
Planning for a long and prosperous retirement is no longer just about the money; because of the recession...
The American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 that Congress passed on New Year's Day extended the Bush era tax...
In this article I will explain the difference between a Will-based plan and a Trust-based plan so you can...
When we talk about retirement, most of us are still thinking about our parents’ retirement and how they d...
Estate planning rarely comes up in the course of regular conversation and if it does, it is usually invol...
The holidays are a traditional time for multiple generations to gather together, and are also a perfect o...
With longer life spans comes the necessity to be sure your money is around at least as long as you are. L...
Even though the elections are over, no one knows what Congress will do by the end of the year when it com...
You’re never too young or too old to save for retirement; here are some guidelines by age group: Under 25...
According to a recent study by the Investor Protection Trust and Investor Protection Institute, the top t...
While most parents have the inclination to treat all their children equally when it comes to an inheritan...
What will happen to estate taxes in 2013? Right now, you may as well try to predict what the weather will...
There is no doubt we are a nation of pet lovers. Unfortunately, the law as it is currently written views ...
There are a number of essential things a last will and testament can do for you, such as distribute famil...
virginia
Hi, I’m Pam Starsia. I became a Personal Family Lawyer because I’m passionate about educating and empowering people to create estate, life, ...
I became a Personal Family Lawyer to help people like you and families like yours plan for the future. Facing the potential for incapacity a...
Let’s talk about your death . . . or incapacity. If something unfortunate happens, what will happen to your assets that you’ve worked so har...
Hi. I’m John W. Heck. I became a Personal Family Lawyer because I have seen the consequences of failed estate planning in my immediate famil...
In my practice, I focus on Family Protection, Wealth Preservation, and Value-Based Planning. I’m also experienced with wealth planning strat...
Lisa Brown Esq. is the principal attorney for Brown Law Offices. She received her J.D. from The George Washington University Law School and ...
Naureen Rahman has been practicing law for over twenty years in the Maryland, DC-Metropolitan area. She has practiced across numerous sector...
I love being able to guide my clients through a unique planning process that empowers them to live a financially fulfilling life now while e...
I am an attorney dedicated to helping families in Virginia navigate the world of estate planning. With over 22 years of legal experience, I'...
You've planned your kids’ birthday parties, playdates, and education. But have you adequately planned for the care of your family if the unthinkable happened? What provisions are needed in the first 24 hours while the officials locate your family members and arrange for your children's care?
In an easy-to-read "choose your own adventure" story format, Wear Clean Underwear guides you to know the exact right legal steps for yourself and the people you love.