This comes up more than you’d think. A loved one passes away, and someone says, “the will is safe – it’s in the banks deposit box.” It sounds like the right idea at first. The…
A Will is a Good Start – But It’s Not the Whole Picture
A lot of people think that once they’ve written a will, they’re all set. And it’s true – a will is better than nothing. It names who you want to handle your estate and who…
Even Celebrities Die Without Wills. Here’s Why That Matters
It might surprise you, but some of the most famous people in the world died without a will. Prince. Michael Jackson. Aretha Franklin. Jimi Hendrix. Elvis Presley. Their names are known everywhere, but when they…
Why Having an Advance Directive Just Makes Sense
Here’s something most people don’t want to think about: What happens if you’re in the hospital, unable to speak, and decisions need to be made fast? Would your family know what to do? Would doctors…
Avoid the Probate Process with Smarter Estate Planning
When someone passes away, you may think that their family is immedaitaly entitled to their assets or things. This isn't always the case. Most of the time, their assets have to go through what's called…
If You Don’t Choose a Guardian, the Court Might Do It For You
Choosing someone to care for your children if something ever happens to you is not easy. If fact, for most parents, it is one of the hardest choices to even think about. But it is…
What You Leave Behind Affects More Than Memories
When loved ones look back at your life, they'll think about the stories you told, the laughs you shared together and the memories you left behind. Surely these are the only things that matter, right?…
Why Estate Planning Isn’t a DIY Job
When many people think about estate planning, they imagine a simple will and some papers put away for the future. It does not appear urgent until it suddenly is. And then, the absence of detail…
Refinanced Your Home? Make Sure It’s Back in Your Trust
People refinance their homes for a number of reasons, whether it's to lower their interest rate, change their terms or eliminate PMI. However, after refinancing, there's an important step that many people forget once the…
How a Thoughtful Estate Plan Helped One Woman Get Buried in Her Ferrari
Sandra West, a heiress to an oil fortune and Beverly Hills socialite, made headlines in the 1970s for one of the strangest estate planning stories to date. Her final request? To be buried in her…