Your Spouse May Not Be the Right Choice for Trustee
While naming a spouse as trustee may seem like the natural choice, it is not always the best decision for managing trusts effectively and protecting beneficiaries.
April 28, 2026
Spousal Lifetime Access Trusts can Protect Your Partner
Make sure your loved ones will be secure after you’re gone by setting up a Spousal Lifetime Access Trust.
November 18, 2025
Portability Doesn’t Happen Automatically
Portability isn’t automatic; even nontaxable estates must file a tax return to elect it.
November 13, 2025
Protect Your Child’s Inheritance in a Second Marriage
The portion the surviving spouse can claim depends on the circumstances.
September 24, 2025
How Wealth is Distributed in Blended Families
This summer’s passing of Ozzy Osbourne was mourned by heavy metal fans and caught the attention of estate planning attorneys for lessons about how wealth is distributed among members of a blended family. Whether you liked his music or not, Osbourne left an estate estimated to be worth $230 million plus future royalties, reports a recent article from Think Advisor, “What Wealthy Families Can Learn From a Rock Star’s Estate.” There’s no estate battle for now. However, only time will tell if the Osbourne family faces issues like those of many blended families. There’s no simple playbook for these situations,…
September 2, 2025
Secure Your Spouse’s access to Quality Care
A spouse’s move to a nursing home brings emotional challenges and financial decisions that require careful legal planning to protect your family’s future.
August 14, 2025
Moving to Another State can Impact Your Will
Wills don’t automatically become invalid when you move. However, state laws can affect how they’re interpreted or enforced.
July 29, 2025
Using a Disclaimer Trust to Transfer Land
A widow wonders if it’s too late to fix an estate plan that made no provisions for their one farming son and isn’t sure how to manage the farmland.
July 7, 2025
Avoid the Survivor’s Tax Penalty After the Death of a Spouse
Losing a spouse is emotionally devastating. However, many surviving partners also face an unexpected financial blow in the form of higher taxes.
June 30, 2025
Understanding the Essentials of Social Security Survivor Benefits
Survivor benefits can be complex, even if you don’t think you have a complicated financial situation.
June 4, 2025