Travelers Need These Estate Planning Documents

September 16, 2025

Let’s face it – emergencies can happen anywhere at any time. Whether you fly frequently for business or occasionally for pleasure, before your next flight takes off, you should have your estate planning and healthcare documents completed. A recent article from Fast Company, “Healthcare docs are the unsung hero of travel season: An estate planning expert and seasoned traveler weighs in,” explains what to do and why. Travelers need these estate planning documents before they travel.

When most people think about their estate plans, they typically consider a last will and testament, funeral arrangements, or trusts. However, healthcare documents are just as critical, even for younger adults. This group of documents includes a Medical Power of Attorney, HIPAA Authorization, Living Will (also referred to as an Advance Healthcare Directive) and any state-specific healthcare documents, such as an MOLST (Medical Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment) or a DNR (Do Not Resuscitate) order.

These documents serve as a playbook for your care, to be used by loved ones in the event of an unexpected occurrence. You don’t need to be on an airplane to suffer a sudden health event or accident. However, there’s nothing like a turbulent flight to make people wonder if they’ve completed their estate planning.

Everyone has heard the stories from friends and family about someone on a hiking trip who suffers an injury and needs to be airlifted, a college student who becomes seriously ill and has not named a legal guardian. If the right documents are in place, these documents will allow a loved one to act on your behalf, quickly and decisively.

Here’s what you need to do:

Consult with an estate planning attorney and get the process of creating an estate plan, including healthcare documents, started.
Name a healthcare proxy who can speak on your behalf if you’re unconscious or not able to communicate your wishes. Everyone over 18 should have this document.
Protect your documents, whether they are digital or paper. Ideally, you have both. Digital copies of your estate planning and health documents should be stored in a secure location, allowing you or your representatives to access and share them with treating doctors or health insurance companies.
Talk with your travelling companions and your family members. Let them know where your documents are stored and what your wishes are, in case of an emergency.

Travelers need these estate planning documents before they travel. You’d never travel without a passport. Your estate plan, including healthcare documents, deserves the same consideration. You plan your trips well in advance, your planning should include making sure you and your family are prepared for any emergency. If you would like to learn more about essential health and guardianship documents, please visit our previous posts.

Reference: Fast Company (Aug. 19, 2025) “Healthcare docs are the unsung hero of travel season: An estate planning expert and seasoned traveler weighs in”

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Health Care Proxy and Power of Attorney are Essential Tools in your Estate Plan

September 4, 2025

While you may think of a last will and testament when the phrase “estate planning” is used, there are several other documents you need. A health care proxy and a durable power of attorney are essential tools in your estate plan. A recent article in Kiplinger, “I’m an Estate Planning Attorney: These Are the Two Legal Documents Everyone Should Have,” explains what every adult needs to protect themselves and help loved ones during a time of crisis.

An estate plan does far more than simply distribute assets when you’ve died. It also protects your wishes while you’re living, as well as in case of incapacity. Two documents are required: the healthcare proxy and the durable power of attorney.

A health care proxy, sometimes referred to as a Health Care Power of Attorney, appoints someone you trust to receive information about your medical care and make decisions if you are too sick or injured to communicate your wishes. If you recover and regain capacity, you resume the ability to oversee your own health care, and the health care agent can no longer make medical decisions or have access to your medical care.

No one expects to be incapacitated. However, it’s best to be prepared. If you’re scheduled for surgery and are sedated, for instance, you’ll want another person to be able to make decisions for you in case something goes wrong. If you experience a longer medical event, such as being in a coma, your family will be able to make decisions on your behalf.

If there is no Power of Healthcare Attorney in place, your spouse or family members will need to petition the court to name a guardian to be able to make decisions for you. There have been many court cases where a surviving spouse would like to take their loved one off life support, but their parents don’t want that to happen. This is a terrible situation for everyone involved and can be avoided with the right estate planning.

A healthcare proxy may include provisions for a Living Will, which would specify the types of medicine or treatments you would want or not want if you were in a terminal state. For example, you may not want to be kept alive through artificial nutrition or a heart and lung machine if you are in a vegetative state. The living will is your way of communicating your wishes to your family clearly and coherently.

Who you name as your healthcare agent is entirely up to you. A younger person may name a parent, spouse, or close friend as their guardian. Couples often name their spouse or partner, while elderly people are more likely to name an adult child.

If there is no health care proxy named, even a married spouse doesn’t have the legal right to make decisions for you. Once a child reaches the age of legal majority, they are considered an adult, and their parents are no longer the default guardians. When children go to college, they should have a health care proxy in place.

The second critical document is the Power of Attorney. This names a person to make financial and legal decisions on your behalf. Without one, the family will need to go to court to access your accounts, pay bills and maintain the business side of your life.

Even if you don’t care what happens to your possessions after you die, having a health care proxy and durable power of attorney in place will give your family the essential tools in your estate plan to care for you without added burdens when they are needed. If you would like to learn more about health care directives and powers of attorney, please visit our previous posts.

Reference: Kiplinger (Aug. 7, 2025) “I’m an Estate Planning Attorney: These Are the Two Legal Documents Everyone Should Have”

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A Living Will Should be Part of Your Estate Plan

July 31, 2025

Creating a living will is the best way to provide your loved ones with the guidance they need in making decisions if you aren’t able to communicate your wishes. This is the clear message from an article, “Living wills take guesswork out of medical care,” from C&G Newspapers. A living will should be a part of your estate plan.

A living will is different from a last will and testament, which concerns itself with property distribution after you have died. A living will addresses your wishes regarding life-sustaining treatment. They are used when the signer can’t speak on their own behalf.

Most families prefer not to address this issue at all, which is understandable. The prospect of your loved one being too sick or injured and unable to tell you what kind of end-of-life care they want is not a pleasant one. However, the alternative to not having a living will is for a family or spouse to guess what you would have wanted.

This is an unfair burden to place on others, who may have to live with the worry of never knowing if their decision was the right one. Having a living will also prevents the family from fighting when one person believes you want to be kept on life support, while the other believes you’d prefer not to spend any more time than necessary hooked up to artificial feeding tubes, a ventilator, or a heart machine.

Living wills are typically prepared by estate planning attorneys, often in conjunction with other estate planning documents, such as a last will, power of attorney, healthcare power of attorney and trusts.

While a living will is not a legally enforceable document, it is invaluable in clarifying your wishes and helping loved ones during a medical crisis. The living will lists very specific preferences and can be as detailed as desired. It may set a time frame for how long you want to be kept on a ventilator, what kind of pain medications you’d wish to have and even when you would like to terminate life support.

Withholding life-sustaining care is a difficult decision to make, and the person must be resolute about following your directions, regardless of their own feelings about the choices. They may also need to withstand challenges made by family members, who may have strong feelings about your wishes.

A document regarding organ donation could be prepared. However, this is usually decided by the person named as the healthcare proxy.

Having a comprehensive estate plan created by an experienced estate planning attorney is a gift to your family. You should have a living will as a part of that estate plan. It will allow you to clarify your intentions in the most challenging circumstances is an act of kindness, as it avoids the added pain of uncertainty, family squabbles and removes doubt in a time of great emotional duress. If you would like to learn more about living wills and advanced directives, please visit our previous posts.

Reference: C&G Newspapers (June 24, 2025) “Living wills take guesswork out of medical care”

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Estate Planning Mistakes Financial Advisors Make

July 24, 2025

Many families rely on financial advisors to assist with retirement planning, investments and estate planning. While advisors often provide sound financial advice, they are not estate planning attorneys. Relying on them alone can result in costly oversights, especially when it comes to protecting your estate from taxes, probate delays, or unintended beneficiaries. There are certain estate planning mistakes financial advisors make that can be avoided.

Misunderstanding the Limits of Beneficiary Designations

One of the most common mistakes is assuming that beneficiary designations on accounts, such as IRAs or life insurance, fully replace the need for a will or trust. While these designations do allow assets to bypass probate, they don’t address complex family dynamics, minor children, or long-term asset protection. Advisors may also fail to remind clients to update their beneficiaries after significant life events, such as divorce or remarriage, which can lead to unintended consequences.

For example, an outdated beneficiary form can result in a 401(k) payout being left to an ex-spouse, despite the instructions in your will. Coordinating these designations with your estate planning documents is critical.

Failing to Recommend Trust Structures

Advisors sometimes overlook the role that trusts can play in preserving wealth. Trusts offer more control than simple beneficiary designations or joint accounts. In certain situations, they can offer privacy, provide for children with special needs and delay distributions to young or financially immature heirs.

Advisors may hesitate to suggest trusts because they fall outside their direct scope of service. However, when significant assets or family complexities are involved, trusts are often essential. An estate planning attorney can work with your advisor to build a more protective structure.

Overemphasizing Tax Avoidance

While minimizing taxes is important, it should not come at the expense of a clear and functional estate plan. Advisors sometimes focus too much on strategies to reduce estate taxes and neglect broader concerns, such as family dynamics, asset protection, or incapacity planning.

Estate planning is about more than saving money—it’s about making sure the right people have access to the right assets at the right time. A plan that’s tax-efficient but fails to name guardians for minor children or does not include powers of attorney for healthcare and finances, is incomplete.

Inadequate Planning for Incapacity

Advisors often overlook what happens if a client becomes incapacitated. Without a power of attorney and healthcare directives, families may be required to undergo court proceedings to gain decision-making authority. Planning for incapacity is just as important as planning for death.

Clients need to understand that their investment accounts—and their broader financial lives—must be managed even if they’re unable to make decisions. This requires legal documents that go beyond an advisor’s purview.

The Importance of Collaborating with an Estate Planning Attorney

Many of these estate planning mistakes financial advisors make that can be avoided by working with an estate planning attorney. A good financial advisor should encourage collaboration with an estate planning attorney. The law surrounding wills, trusts and incapacity is complex and varies from state to state. Advisors who try to handle everything risk leaving their clients vulnerable.

Your advisor and attorney should instead work together. The advisor brings knowledge of your financial goals and accounts; the attorney brings the legal tools to protect those assets and pass them on according to your wishes. If you would like to learn more about estate planning, please visit our previous posts.

Reference: U.S. News & World Report (Sept. 10, 2021) “5 Estate Planning Mistakes Financial Advisors Make

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Understanding the Difference Between a Living Will and Last Will and Testament

February 4, 2025

Estate planning serves to make your wishes known, plan for the future and enjoy peace of mind knowing that you have protected yourself and your family. Young adults, unmarried people and parents juggling family and work also need an estate plan, according to a recent article from Success, “What to Consider When Making a Will—and the Difference Between a Will and a Living Will.” Understanding the difference between a Living Will and a Last Will and Testament is critical to successful estate planning.

A Last Will and Testament and a Living Will are essential parts of every estate plan. However, their similar names can lead to confusion. They serve two very different purposes.

A Will provides directions to be followed when administering your wishes. The will names an executor who manages the estate and distributes assets in the probate estate. A guardian for minor children is also part of a will. This is why it’s so important for parents with young children to have an estate plan, including a will. If there is no will, a court will decide who will raise the children if both parents die.

Young adults, who generally believe they are immortal, often engage in high-risk activities and travel to exotic places. They should have a will and, equally importantly, a living will. This document is used to express preferences for medical care if one is seriously ill or injured and cannot communicate their wishes.

Similarly, young adults should also have an Advance Directive or a Medical Power of Attorney so someone they choose can make decisions if they are incapacitated, whether by illness or injury.

A Power of Attorney is needed to allow someone else to handle financial and legal matters in case of incapacity. Taken together, the will, living will and advance directive allow someone else to take over for you while you are living or after you have died.

Digital assets need to be addressed for anyone with an online life—which means almost everyone, especially younger people. Access to bank accounts, utility companies, photos stored online, social media accounts and digital property is a part of contemporary life. Settling an estate without this information will be difficult, if not downright impossible.

Estate plans need to be reviewed every three to five years and when significant life events occur, like marriage, divorce, the birth of a child, or a big change in financial circumstances. An experienced estate planning attorney will ensure you have a full understanding of the difference between a Living Will and a Last Will and Testament. They can guide you through this process, making it far easier than expected. If you would like to learn more about a Living Will, please visit our previous posts.

Reference: Success (Dec. 23, 2024) “What to Consider When Making a Will—and the Difference Between a Will and a Living Will”

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Proper Estate Planning can Protect Couples with Big Age Gaps

October 30, 2024

A decade-sized age gap doesn’t seem like much when you are 38 and he’s 57. However, as you get older, the age difference can lead to challenges, including those concerning estate planning and long-term care. Proper estate planning can protect couples with big age gaps. There needs to be enough resources for the surviving spouse if the older spouse passes first, which isn’t always the case. According to a recent article, “Estate Planning for May—December Couples,” from Next Avenue, finances, wills and estate plans must consider the age difference.

The U.S. Census Bureau reports the average age gap in traditional marriages as 3.69 years. However, in some Western countries, about 8% of all traditional couples have an age gap of 10 years or more.

One couple had a nearly 20-year age gap when they sat down with an advisor. The husband had three grown children from a prior marriage and didn’t want to put his second wife’s financial security in jeopardy if he should die first. His will needed to be drafted so she would inherit the home outright, while also providing his three children with an equal share of remaining assets after a certain period.

Naming someone who is not also a beneficiary to be the executor of your estate may be especially helpful here. Someone who isn’t going to benefit from an inheritance may be more objective about how assets are distributed. During their years of practice with families of all types, experienced estate planning attorneys see all kinds of family situations, including couples in subsequent marriages with large age gaps. They can help navigate the best way for wealth to be distributed to protect both the younger spouse and any children from prior marriages.

A few essential tasks:

Review and update beneficiary designations on accounts like life insurance, retirement accounts and other assets.

Be clear in conversations about your intentions for personal property and document your wishes in your will. Family disputes over heirlooms, regardless of their value, can happen if you haven’t put those wishes in writing.

If the older spouse dies and the young one remarries, it’s possible the new spouse could inherit the older spouse’s assets unless good estate planning is done. The older spouse may consider leaving assets in a marital trust designed to benefit the surviving spouse. This way, the surviving spouse has access to funds as needed. However, upon the surviving spouse’s death, the assets go to the older spouse’s other beneficiaries.

Couples should always have a Power of Attorney, Health Care Power of Attorney and Living Wills created when working with an estate planning attorney. The medical power of attorney allows another person to make medical decisions in case of incapacity. A Living Will outlines what treatments you do or don’t want if you are terminally ill or injured. These documents vary by state and, just like your will, should be personalized to reflect your wishes. An estate planning attorney will show you how proper estate planning that can protect couples with big age gaps. If you would like to learn more about planning for couples, please visit our previous posts.

Reference: Next Avenue (Sep. 5, 2024) “Estate Planning for May—December Couples”

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Grandparents Raising Grandchildren need Specialized Estate Planning

October 28, 2024

Grandparents raising grandchildren need specialized estate planning. Navigating these issues can feel overwhelming. A skilled lawyer can help you understand your estate planning options and secure your grandchild’s future.

According to AARP, grandparents responsible for their grandchildren must often establish a legal relationship to care for them fully. Without this, you may face difficulties enrolling them in school, getting medical care, or making important decisions on their behalf. Here are the primary options to consider:

Guardianship: This legal arrangement allows grandparents to decide about their grandchildren’s health, education and welfare. However, it is important to note that guardianship doesn’t always sever legal parenthood and may leave the biological parents with some authority.
Grandparent Power of Attorney: A power of attorney (POA) for grandparents is much more flexible than guardianship. This makes it suitable as a temporary solution. It confers the power to make decisions, such as enrolling a child in school or seeking medical treatment.
Adoption: Adoption is the most permanent option, since it legally transfers all parental rights to the grandparents. Once completed, all legal rights to the child transfer from the biological parents to you.

Each of these legal tools comes with specific responsibilities and levels of authority. Therefore, it’s crucial to consult with an estate planning attorney to choose the best path for your family.

In some states, consent laws allow you to enroll a child in school or access medical care without a formal legal relationship. These laws allow caregivers to sign an affidavit confirming they are the primary caregiver, which may be enough to get the child’s medical services or educational enrollment. However, these laws vary by state, so you must check the rules in your area or consult an attorney.

Many grandparents worry about the financial burden of raising grandchildren, especially without formal legal arrangements. Public benefits are fortunately available for children that don’t require grandparents to have custody or guardianship. Programs such as Social Security benefits, child support, or foster care payments can help ease the financial strain. Your income may sometimes not even be counted when determining the child’s eligibility for assistance.

An article from the Chillicothe Gazette discusses an interview with Southeastern Ohio Legal Services attorney Sierra Cooper, where she covered adoption by grandparents. Among other topics, Sierra discussed how the power of attorney or caretaker authorization could provide a quicker route to gaining legal rights.

Sierra also discussed guardianship and adoption as complex but more permanent options. While the process can be challenging, legal tools are available to provide simple, short-term answers as well as enduring solutions.

Estate planning goes beyond simply caring for your grandchild while you’re alive. A solid estate plan will make all the difference if something happens to you. You can outline a guardian and backup guardian to take over raising them or establish a trust to manage their inheritance.

Grandparents may also want to consider durable powers of attorney and advance healthcare directives for themselves. These documents outline your wishes in case of an emergency.

If you are a grandparent raising grandchildren. or anticipate that you may need to take on this role, it’s essential to have specialized estate planning in place. By acting now, you can protect your grandchildren’s future and ensure that they have the support they need. If you would like to learn more about planning for grandparents, please visit our previous posts.

References: AARP (Aug. 11, 2011) “Raising Grandkids: Legal Issues” and Chillicothe Gazette (Oct. 8, 2018) “Need to help care for grandchildren? Here’s some legal tips”

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Estate Planning When You’re Single

October 24, 2024

Estate planning when you’re single can be daunting when there is no one to assist you. For one woman, the wake-up call arrived when listening to a friend explain all the tasks she needed to perform for her 91-year-old mother, whose needs were increasing rapidly. Solo agers, people who are growing older without spouses, adult children, or other family members, are now a significant part of the older population, says the article “Going Solo: How to Plan for Retirement When You’re on Your Own” from The New York Times.

Seniors who are married or have adult children have many of the same retirement planning issues as their solo ager counterparts. However, figuring out the answers requires different solutions. Managing future healthcare issues, where to live and how to ensure that retirement savings lasts needs a different approach.

Options must be addressed sooner rather than later. Estate planning is a core part of the plan. While you can’t plan everything, you can anticipate and prepare for certain events.

Determining who you can count on in a healthcare crisis and to handle your financial and legal issues is key. This is challenging when no obvious answers exist. However, it should not be avoided. You’ll need an estate plan with advance directives to convey your wishes for medical treatment and end-of-life care.

An estate planning attorney will help draw up a Power of Attorney, so someone of your choice can step in to make legal and financial issues if you become incapacitated. You’ll also want a Healthcare Proxy to name a person who can make medical decisions on your behalf if you can’t communicate your wishes. While it’s comfortable to name a trusted friend, what would happen if they aren’t able to serve? A younger person you know and trust is a better choice for this role.

A Last Will and Testament is needed to establish your wishes for distributing property. Your will is also used to name an executor who administers the will. Think about people you trust who are a generation or two younger than you, like a niece or nephew or the adult child of someone you know well. You’ll need to talk with them about taking on this role; don’t spring it on them after you’ve passed. Just because someone is named an executor doesn’t mean they have to accept the role.

Where you age matters. From safety and socialization standpoints, aging alone in a single-family home may not be the best option. Having a strong network of friends is important for the solo ager. Moving to a planned community with various support systems may be better than aging in place. Explore other housing options while you are still able to live on your own, so you can make an informed choice if and when the time comes for community living.

Estate planning when you’re single doesn’t have to be a headache. A combination of professional help will make the solo aging journey better. An experienced estate planning attorney, financial advisor and health insurance source can help you navigate the legal and business side of your life. Check with your town’s senior center for available social services and activities resources. If you would like to learn more about planning as a single person, please visit our previous posts.

Reference: The New York Times (Sept. 21, 2024) “Going Solo: How to Plan for Retirement When You’re on Your Own”

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Gen Zers Need Estate Planning

October 23, 2024

Gen Zers need estate planning. They may still be young, ages 17–27. However, this doesn’t mean some don’t have ownership and assets to protect with estate planning. Medical emergencies and car accidents happen to people of all ages. An estate plan protects the person as much as their property. The sooner you have a plan in place, says a recent article from yahoo! finance, “Why Gen Z Should Be Thinking About Estate Planning,” the better.

For many young adults, estate planning is like buying rental insurance. You don’t expect to deal with a fire or have your home broken into. However, having insurance means if such events happen, your possessions will be insured, and you’ll be made whole.

Gen Zers who are signed up for employee benefits like 401(k)s or retirement plans already have assets to be passed to another person if they should die young. These accounts typically feature beneficiary designations, so they should be sure to have those completed properly. Many Gen Zers name their parents or siblings as their beneficiaries at this point in their lives. The future may bring new relationships, marriage and children, so they must update these beneficiaries throughout life.

While practically everyone using a cell phone or computer has digital assets, Gen Zers are likely to have more digital currency and crypto in digital wallets. They may have intellectual property on platforms, including TikTok or YouTube. These assets need to be protected in a digital estate plan. The information required to access these accounts should not be in a last will and testament. However, they should be documented so the assets are not lost.

Other digital assets don’t have any value. Users don’t have the right to transfer the assets, like social media accounts or music files. Having a conversation with a digitally savvy person about these assets and providing them with login and account information is an integral part of an estate plan.

Gen Zers do need a will. Without a will, the estate will get tangled up in probate, a court process where the laws of your state determine who inherits any possessions. This takes time and court fees can add up quickly.

Having a will created with an experienced estate planning attorney encourages a review of assets, providing a perspective of finances that one might not otherwise have early in their career.

Estate planning also includes planning who will make medical and financial decisions in case of incapacity. These documents, including a Power of Attorney, Healthcare Proxy, Living Will and other documents, are state-specific. Once someone becomes a legal adult, neither parents nor siblings can be involved with medical care or handle finances, unless these documents are created and executed. Trusted friends can also take on these roles.

Gen Zers need estate planning. They should make an appointment with a local estate planning attorney. They’ll provide guidance through the process. Regardless of age and stage, having a plan creates peace of mind for young adults and their family members. If you would like to learn more about planning for young adults, please visit our previous posts.

Reference: yahoo! finance (Sept. 17, 2024) “Why Gen Z Should Be Thinking About Estate Planning”

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Important Steps to take After the Passing of a Spouse

October 9, 2024

The passing of a spouse is one of life’s most stressful events, topping the list of most mental health checklists for anxiety-creating experiences. There are important steps to take after the passing of a spouse. It’s important to build in answers to “what if’s” into an estate plan, advises a recent article from The Penny Hoarder, “How to Change Your Estate Plan After Your Spouse Dies.”

It’s easy to procrastinate estate planning. However, even if you have a will, as 1.3 million Americans do, you’re not finished. Regular updates of your estate plan to reflect new circumstances are necessary, especially upon the death of a spouse. It’s complicated to do this when grief is fresh. However, it becomes manageable by taking this task one step at a time.

Married couples typically create their estate plans together, with the understanding of one spouse outliving the other. Being realistic about who is likely to die first sounds a bit morbid. However, it should be taken into consideration. Males tend to have shorter lifespans, while people who live with chronic conditions, like diabetes, heart disease, or cancer, should keep the impact of their conditions in mind when making plans for the distant or not-so-distant future.

Powers of Attorney should be updated every few years. This is the person chosen to handle financial and legal affairs in case of incapacity. In most cases, this is assigned to a spouse, so it should be updated soon after the spouse passes. The power of attorney does not have to be an adult child but should be trusted, organized, and financially savvy.

Another document to be updated is the Healthcare Proxy, sometimes called a Medical Power of Attorney. An adult child living nearby, a trusted friend, or another relative needs to be named and the document executed in case you should become incapacitated. This way, someone can act on your behalf without going to court to obtain guardianship.

Wills and trusts need to be updated. With your spouse’s passing, your estate may now be vulnerable to estate taxes on the state and federal levels. Who do you want to inherit your property from, and what’s the best way to pass assets on to the next generation? An experienced estate planning attorney will be needed to make this happen most efficiently and expeditiously.

After a spouse passes, you’ll also want to review beneficiaries on life insurance, retirement accounts and any accounts with a named beneficiary. If these documents have contingency beneficiaries who receive the assets, you’ll be in good shape if the primary beneficiary has died. However, do you know for sure the accounts are structured this way? Reviewing all these accounts is surely a good idea.

It may be time for the estate to include a trust. The most significant change occurring when a spouse dies is the surviving spouse is now legally considered single. All states have laws about how much assets may be owned to qualify for Medicaid. This number is dramatically lower for a single person than for a married couple. The surviving spouse may need to put their assets into a trust to exempt some assets that would otherwise need to be spent down before qualifying for Medicaid.

This is also the time to review end-of-life documents, including a Living Will and other medical directives.

There’s no way to make the loss of a spouse easy. However, these important steps to take after the passing of a spouse will provide some peace of mind. If you would like to learn more about planning for surviving spouses, please visit our previous posts.

Reference: The Penny Hoarder (Sep. 5, 2024) “How to Change Your Estate Plan After Your Spouse Dies”

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Category: Living Will

Travelers Need These Estate Planning Documents

Health Care Proxy and Power of Attorney are Essential Tools in your Estate Plan

A Living Will Should be Part of Your Estate Plan

Estate Planning Mistakes Financial Advisors Make

Misunderstanding the Limits of Beneficiary Designations

Failing to Recommend Trust Structures

Overemphasizing Tax Avoidance

Inadequate Planning for Incapacity

The Importance of Collaborating with an Estate Planning Attorney

Understanding the Difference Between a Living Will and Last Will and Testament

Proper Estate Planning can Protect Couples with Big Age Gaps

Grandparents Raising Grandchildren need Specialized Estate Planning

Gen Zers Need Estate Planning

Important Steps to take After the Passing of a Spouse

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