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Whom Should I Tell About My Estate Plan?
While it often makes sense to keep your estate plan private, too much secrecy can create problems. If the right people don’t know they’ve been named—or don’t know where to find your documents—your plan may lead to confusion, delays, or even conflict. The key is balance. The trick is knowing whom to tell, what to… Read more
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National Health Care Decisions Day 2026
April 16, 2026, is National Health Care Decisions Day—a reminder that every adult should have a plan in place for medical decision-making. If an unexpected illness or injury occurs, who will speak for you? Will they know your wishes? Without proper documents, your loved ones may face uncertainty, delays, or court involvement during already stressful… Read more
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Estate Planning Starts with a Conversation
Talking with aging parents about estate planning can feel uncomfortable. Yet avoiding the conversation often leads to confusion and family conflict when it matters most. Estate planning is about more than documents—it’s about honoring values, protecting independence, and ensuring wishes are respected. Families delay planning because they don’t know where to start or fear saying… Read more
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When Beneficiary Designations Go Wrong
Beneficiary designations are one of the simplest ways to transfer assets—but when not coordinated properly, they can undo an otherwise well-designed estate plan. Retirement accounts, life insurance, and payable-on-death accounts pass directly to the named beneficiary, regardless of what your will or trust says. Problems arise when designations are outdated, incomplete, or inconsistent with your… Read more
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Hospital Power of Attorney for Health Care
Signing a Power of Attorney for Health Care at the hospital may feel like you’ve taken care of an important step—but these forms can be incomplete or even invalid. Sometimes they fail to name appropriate backup agents or list individuals who may not qualify due to age or other restrictions. If your primary agent is… Read more
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Avoiding Probate: What Works and What Doesn’t
Many people want to avoid probate, but there is a lot of confusion about what actually works. Certain tools can help avoid probate, such as beneficiary designations, transfer-on-death accounts, payable-on-death designations, and properly funded trusts. When used correctly, these tools allow assets to pass to the intended beneficiaries without probate. However, some common shortcuts do… Read more
