Imagine you review your state’s unclaimed funds list. You discover thousands of dollars that belong to you. You’re excited! You go to collect the money. You’re told you can’t have it. What? Welcome to the reality of unclaimed property risks.

As an estate planning attorney, I cannot express enough how important it is to name beneficiaries on your investment accounts. But, just naming a beneficiary is not enough. Yo need to review those beneficiaries on a regular basis. As your life changes, so may your intended beneficiaries. Yet people forget to change those designations. Read on to learn how failing to update beneficiary designations can cost you millions.

Your parents die. You inherit their house. Imagine your surprise when a few months later, you learn that your inherited house is listed for sale. But you didn’t hire the realtor! All too often scammers like to target inherited properties. Learn how to avoid seller scams when inheriteng prperty from a deceased loved one.

This month we are covering the top celebrity estate planning mistakes to avoid. What is it about celebrities that captivates us? The allure of a juicy celebrity story is irresistible. Perhaps we see a bit of ourselves in them? Or, maybe their seemingly unattainable lives fascinate us. Celebrities lead lives that are both glamorous and just beyond our reach, making them endlessly intriguing.

As you know, the Fourth of July and all it represents freedom, independence, and the pursuit of happiness. But, don’t forget, estate planning equals freedom as well. Estate Planning gives the right to decide your own affairs, even after death or in the event of incapacity. An estate plan, specifically a Life & Legacy Plan, is the way to express your liberty. It’s your personal Declaration of Independence.

June is Men’s Health Month. This is a time dedicated to highlighting health issues that primarily affect men and promoting the early detection and treatment of diseases among men and boys. This month, let's focus on you, gentlemen. You already know that taking care of your health allows you to prolong your life and enhance your quality of life. But have you given serious thought to how your health directly impacts your future? Your legacy? The ones you love the most? Do you know the essential tips for men’s health and estate planning?

Did you know that when your child turns 18, the law considers them to be an adult? While the law may consider them to be an adult, they often have more growing up to do whether they think they think they do or not! However, because the law considers them to be an adult, their health and financial information is protected by privacy laws. But, they’re still your child.

As a father, you've always strived to provide the best for your family, ensuring their well-being and securing their future. However, even the most well-intentioned plans can fail if you overlook the complexities of estate planning.

Did you know you can define your legacy through estate planning? Well, this holiday weekend is a great time to start this process. You see, Memorial Day is a time to reflect on mortality, remembrance, and legacy. As we honor the brave men and women who lost their lives in military service, think about the legacy you wish to leave behind. But what is a legacy?

Did you know that May is Older Americans Awareness Month? This makes May the perfect month to talk about securing a comfortable retirement. See, retirement is more than just an end to the working years. It’s an exciting new phase of life that requires thoughtful preparation and strategic planning. May is the perfect opportunity to explore how to secure your retirement and the 10 essential steps to take now to ensure a comfortable and fulfilling retirement. In this article, we’ll discuss the first 5 steps, why they’re important, and how to implement them. Next week, we’ll continue with the remaining 5 steps. 

Mothers, the eternal caretakers, spend their days and nights ensuring the happiness, health, and safety of their children. Whether you're a mother yourself or not, the influence of a mother is undeniable. As Mother’s Day approaches, let’s delve into a gift that holds profound significance for every mother: the ability to secure peace of mind and financial stability through thoughtful estate planning.

When that extra bit of money from your tax refund lands in your bank account, (kinda feels like Christmas, doesn’t it?) it's easy to start dreaming about all the ways you can use it. Financial experts may tell you that it's a chance to pay off debts, tuck away savings for an emergency, or add to your retirement savings. You, on the other hand, may want to splurge on something special. However, there's an often-overlooked option that not only provides immediate satisfaction but ensures long-term benefits for both you and your loved ones: estate planning.

Should you write your own will or trust? Before you start, you may want to consider some of the dangers of DIY Wills and Trusts. If you’ve been traveling around the sun for a while, you’ve no doubt heard of a Will. A will is a document that says what happens to your money and belongings after you die. You may even have a Will. Or, you know you should get one. And maybe you’ve heard of a Trust and wondered what it is and how it works. You may have even done research on Google about how to do your own Will or Trust.In fact, it’s hard to poke around the internet and not find do-it-yourself (“DIY”) Wills and Trusts services. Legal Zoom, TrustandWill.com, and even media personalities Dave Ramsey and Suze Orman offer cheap DIY documents. Heck, you can even create your own Will or Trust for free by downloading a few forms. What these websites won’t do, however, is explain the potential consequences that can happen if you use one of their services.

Anyone who’s seen an episode of “Modern Family” knows that families these days come in many different shapes and sizes. Long gone are the days when a “family” was defined as a mother, father and two children (or was it 2.5 children? Where does the .5 come from anyway?). Estate planning for blended families is becoming even more prevalent. In this article, we’ll focus on one of the types of families that’s common in our modern culture: the blended family.

Whether it’s a breakup, divorce, or the death of a loved one after a lifetime together, every relationship eventually will come to an end. The most important thing is how you have planned for that ending, or whether you haven’t at all,. Your planning (or lack of it) will have a real impact on you, your partner, your children, and your assets. 

The silver lining? While we can't prevent the end, we can prepare for it with a blend of compassion and strategic planning that makes the end the best possible foundation for a new beginning.

Caring for a loved one with dementia is a challenge that millions of families undertake each year. As a caregiver, understanding how a dementia diagnosis affects your loved one’s legal decision-making

Making important decisions for aging parents can be a challenging task, but power of attorney (POA) can provide peace of mind and clarity in times of need. POA enables individuals to make crucial decisions on behalf of their parents, such as managing their finances or making medical decisions, when they are unable to do so themselves due to age or illness.

The holidays are right around the corner, which means more time to gather with family and relatives than any other time of the year. If you’ve been meaning to talk to your family about money, inheritance, end-of-life decisions, estate planning, and creating a plan for your whole family’s wealth - now and in the future - having everyone in the same room is ideal.

Discover your Vacation Dream Team. Traveling the world can be an exciting adventure. By assembling a planning team, you can help make sure that you and your loved ones are fully protected while you are having the time of your life.