Your Collection Needs to Be Part of Your Estate Plan

Your collection of baseball cards, Birkin handbags or aging Bordeaux may deliver hours of pleasure. It’s also an estate planner’s nightmare.

October 2, 2025

When Your First Choice of Trustee Declines

Even the most trusted family member or friend may decline to serve as trustee. The role can be demanding, involving complex legal responsibilities, financial oversight and ongoing reporting obligations. Some individuals may lack confidence in managing investments or navigating government benefits for people with special needs. Others may be concerned about the time commitment or potential conflicts with other beneficiaries. Understanding the reasons for a refusal can help you adjust your approach. Sometimes the concern is about specific duties, which may be alleviated by offering professional assistance or co-trustee arrangements. In other cases, it may be a firm decision based…

September 22, 2025

It is Wise to Add Your Trust to Your Homeowner’s Policy

Many homeowners risk denied claims by not listing their trust on insurance policies.

September 8, 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