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Blended families are usually characterized by a couple bringing their children from a previous relationship into the new union and then having children together. Blended families highlight the need for careful estate planning to make sure the needs of each spouse are met, as well as the needs of each parents’ children. If one spouse…

In estate planning, it is common that parents divide the inheritance equally among the children. But sometimes, parents intentionally choose to not leave anything to a child, and the reasons for doing so may vary. One reason could be that a child who is more financially successful than the others and the parent doesn’t feel…

Dear Clients and Friends – October 21-27, 2019 is Estate Planning Awareness Week. Now that summer vacations are over and the kids are back in school, it is a great time to review or move forward with your estate planning. Because estate planning is a comprehensive plan and not just a single document, it is…

57% of American adults have not prepared a Last Will & Testament (a “Will”) according to Care.com’s estate planning survey. The survey found that participants were more likely or less likely to have a Will depending on issues such as age, race, and education. For example, when broken down generationally, 66% of people aged 65…

A special needs child can present many challenges to their parents. One of the toughest challenges faced by many parents is knowing how to best care for their special needs child as they reach adulthood. There are many areas that need consideration when planning for the transition of a special needs child to adulthood. Let’s…

The characteristics of entrepreneurs include motivation, creativity, persuasiveness, risk tolerance, versatility, vision, innovation, communication, collaboration, flexibility, and decisiveness. These individuals create new businesses bearing most of the risks and reaping most of the rewards if successful. Because of their innate attributes, an estate planning process can be markedly different from others because entrepreneurs often have…

Most Americans consider real property, like their home, the most significant part of their overall net worth. How the home and other pieces of real property are titled deserves careful consideration. Real estate constitutes the land and any structure, including vegetation, livestock, crops, and other natural resources that sit on the land under the state’s…

During your lifetime, you spend the first part trying to attain financial security and the second part working to maintain it. This adage is why many people spend substantial time and effort maximizing their legacy goals in their estate plan, ensuring their wishes come to pass. Your life’s work and ability to provide for your…

Family disagreements about a parent’s end-of-life care and inheritance can get so serious they may end up in a legal filing and court case. You can take steps moving beyond the possibility this might happen and create (or amend) your estate plan seeking to diffuse these potential issues before they become legal challenges. Every situation…

Legendary talk-show host Larry King married seven women and had five children with many of them. He died at age 87 on January 23, 2021, after contracting Covid and then succumbing to an infection. Immediately after his death, his estate went straight to probate court. If only he would have followed the advice that any…