No matter how well you know your loved ones, it’s impossible to predict how they’ll behave when you die or if you become incapacitated. No one wants to believe that their relatives would end up fighting one another in court over inheritance issues … but it does happen all the time.

Family dynamics are complicated and prone to conflict even during the best of times. But when tragedy strikes, even minor tensions and disagreements can explode into bitter conflict. And when access to money is on the line, conflicts can heat up — fast.

You can dramatically reduce the chances for conflict by working with an experienced lawyer who understands, and can anticipate, these dynamics. Preventing family conflict is one of the primary reasons to work with a Personal Family Lawyer®, rather than relying on do-it-yourself estate planning documents you’ve downloaded from the internet. Even the best documents will be unable to anticipate and navigate such complex matters and directly apply to your specific family situation — but I can.

When creating an estate plan, most people get distracted about passing on the “big things” like real estate, bank accounts, and vehicles, but these things are often not the items that carry the most meaning for the loved ones we leave behind.

Family heirlooms and keepsakes, the smaller items that don’t often have a high dollar value, do have some of the most sentimental value. It’s so important that you don’t overlook this type of property in your wills, trusts, and other estate planning documents. Not surprisingly, the distribution of these types of items can become a source of intense conflict and contention for those you leave behind. Sadly, not addressing family heirlooms and keepsakes in your estate plan can lead to long-lasting disagreements that can tear families apart.

Whether you’ve met with an estate planning lawyer before or it’s your first time, it’s important to understand how working with me is different.

An initial consultation with me is a bit different from a meeting with an estate planning attorney. In a typical consultation, the lawyer will describe the legal documents you need and will quote you a fee to provide those documents.

It might be difficult for you to know exactly what you need. There’s a lot to consider, and you’ll likely want someone to really walk you through — in detail — all of the things you’ll need to think about. Every family is unique and a will isn’t just about money or assets.

A thoughtful, customized and comprehensive family plan will encompass all of the things — and people — most important to you.

Whether you consider yourself wealthy or not, you need to think about how (and when) you’ll talk with your children about money. Financial experts suggest the discussion should happen in three stages during the child’s lifetime. Some experts even suggest talking with children about money at even earlier ages.

The tween years (ages 10-12) are a good time to begin talking about family wealth. At this age, you should simply let your children know that family wealth is not just the money your family has — it involves all of the family resources.

You might think that only the super wealthy need to worry about asset protection planning. But the truth is that if you don’t have millions, you may be at even greater risk. For instance, if you are a multi-millionaire, a $50,000 judgment against you might not be that big of a deal. But for a family with a modest income, savings, and home, it could be devastating.

Asset protection planning isn’t something you can put off until something happens; at that point, it’s likely too late to protect your assets. Like all types of planning, to be effective, asset protection strategies must be in place well before something happens. And asset protection isn’t a one-and-done deal; it must be updated regularly to include changes to your assets, family dynamics, and the law.

When you hear the words “trust fund,” do images of mansions, fancy cars and yachts come to mind? If so, you’re not alone!

However, a trust fund — or trust — is a great estate planning tool for people with a wide range of income levels. A trust can be beneficial for “regular” people who want to accomplish a specific purpose with their money and other assets.

Trusts are legal vehicles for transferring assets in the event of a person’s incapacity or death. It’s especially useful for parents of minor children, along with those who wish to spare their loved ones the hassle of going through the court process known as probate.

When it comes to estate planning, most people think about money or assets — things you own and savings you worked so hard for throughout your lifetime. But, a comprehensive estate plan protects what really matters most — everyone you love. Developing an estate plan to provide care for your children is one of the most important things you can do to truly have peace of mind. Naming a legal guardian for your child or children must be a part of any estate plan.

Estate planning is a crucial aspect of financial management that often goes overlooked or ignored. Even the rich and famous are not exempt from making mistakes when it comes to organizing their estates. High-profile blunders from celebrities like Whitney Houston and Michael Jackson remind us of the importance of careful estate planning and highlight how to avoid similar missteps.

Did you know in cases of illness, injury, or other means, anyone might need an appointed guardian if they become mentally incapacitated? In such cases, without proper estate planning in place (or with insufficient planning), the court process in probate court must appoint a guardian.

Obtaining guardianship can be challenging and expensive. First, you’d need to file a guardianship petition in court and request the court declare the incapacitated person incompetent. A petition and process like this can spark heated disputes between family members and friends. If no one had been appointed through an estate plan, essentially anyone can claim they'd be best suited for the role.

As we head into the warmer months, many parents will see their children graduate high school, prepare to leave home, attend college or pursue other life goals. For parents of littler ones, this season can mean outdoor or sleep-away camps, summer field trips, and family vacations near and far from home.

It’s an exciting, and, sometimes, emotional time. With so much going on, estate planning is probably the last kind of planning on your mind. But I’d strongly suggest you move estate planning for your young adult to the very top of your list.

Have you ever wondered what happens to your own debt or a parent’s debt after you (or they) die? Well, it depends, and it’s a key reason you want to ensure your estate plan is well prepared. How you handle your debt now will absolutely impact the people you love.

In some cases, you could inadvertently leave your surviving heirs — kids, parents, or others — responsible for your debt. If you structure your affairs properly, though, your debt could die right along with you.

The pandemic forced many of us to face our own mortality like no other event in recent memory. Some of those worst-case scenarios we thought would never happen now seem much more likely, and for some people, those unthinkable situations have even become reality. The thought of not being able to care for your children after an accident, illness or death is one of the most unsettling thoughts a parent can have. But what’s even more upsetting is knowing that your kids are still at risk of ending up in the care of strangers even if you have named legal guardians for them in your will.

The issue frequently comes up—how can a trust help me save on taxes? Let’s look at the two different types of trusts: Revocable Living Trust and Irrevocable Trust. If you are trying to decide whether the many benefits of using trust-based estate planning will work for you and your family, set up an appointment with me so we can design a plan that will provide you with the right solution and will work when you need it. You want a plan that will provide the maximum benefit for the people you love most while paying the least amount of taxes possible.

Since unforeseen illness or injury can happen at any time, a properly prepared living will is essential to every adult’s estate plan. In fact, a living will may be even more important than a last will and testament.

A will is a necessary part of most estate plans. But your will is typically a very small part of a comprehensive plan. Here are some of the things you should not expect your will to accomplish:

Transferring ownership of your home to your adult child during your lifetime may seem like an easy and cheap way to qualify for Medicaid, avoid probate, and/or reduce your taxes. However, this planning “strategy” has three major pitfalls which can lead to disastrous consequences.