Fiduciary Defined

What Does It Mean to Be a Fiduciary? If you have been named as an agent under a Power of Attorney or a trustee of a trust as part of a loved one’s estate plan, you have been given a significant responsibility. In the eyes of the law, you are now a “fiduciary.” But what […]

Power of Attorney

The Most Important Document You Might Ever Sign: The Power of Attorney Statistics show that the vast majority of us will need a Power of Attorney at some point in our lives. This simple document can be the difference between a smooth, private management of your affairs during a crisis and a costly, public court […]

Last Will and Testament

The Last Will and Testament is a key Estate Planning document. A Will allows you to control your property at your death. We often refer to it as the “clean up” document because it tells who you want to receive your assets and how you want them to receive it.

Legal Resolutions for the New Year

A New Year’s Resolution for Your Family’s Future As a new year begins, many of us set goals for our health and finances. But one of the most powerful resolutions you can make is to ensure your legal affairs are in order, providing security and peace of mind for your family. Personal circumstances, state laws, […]

Gifting with Financial Powers of Attorney

Is Your Power of Attorney Powerful Enough? The Hidden Dangers of Gifting Limits Many people believe that once they have a General Durable Power of Attorney (POA), their appointed agent can do “anything” needed to manage their financial affairs. This is a dangerous misconception. In reality, a POA only grants the specific authority written within […]

Special Needs Planning

Planning for the Future of a Loved One with Special Needs Parents of children with special needs face a unique and profound challenge: planning for a lifetime of care. The goal is to ensure your child will always have a safe environment, financial stability, and access to every available resource, long after you are gone. […]

Newsworthy Celebrity Planning

Lessons from the Headlines: What Celebrity Estates Can Teach Us About Planning When a celebrity’s estate makes the news, it provides a powerful public lesson on the profound difference between a well-crafted plan and no plan at all. These high-profile stories serve as real-world examples of how legal documents can protect a family’s legacy—or leave […]

Staying Independent this Fourth of July and Beyond

A Family’s Guide to Supporting an Aging Loved One’s Independence Holidays and family gatherings are often the first time we notice that an aging parent or loved one may be struggling more than we realized. In an era where families are often spread across the country, these visits become crucial check-ins. The challenge is turning […]

Planning for the Inevitable

Planning for the Inevitable: A Guide to Protecting Your Family’s Future Discussing our own mortality is a topic most of us avoid. Yet, as Benjamin Franklin famously quipped, nothing is certain except death and taxes. While we talk about taxes all the time, planning for the inevitable is an act of love that can protect […]

Using Legal Documents to your Advantage

Using Legal Documents to Your Advantage Legal documents like wills and powers of attorney are the fundamental tools for protecting your property and controlling your legacy. However, many people fail to use these tools to their full advantage because they don’t understand how the pieces of their plan—or lack thereof—fit together. With proper guidance, your […]