DINKs Need Estate Planning Too

The nuclear family has traditionally been defined as two parents, two-and-a-half children and a house with a white picket fence. It’s been the basis for the American image of “family” since the 1950s. But as they say, the times are a changin’. The American family now comes in every shape, size and color. One demographic… Read More »

Does Your 18-Year-Old Need a Will?

High school graduation season is nearly over. It’s a celebratory time when you are perhaps more mindful about ways to secure the future of your young adult children. This is an excellent time to remind our clients with graduates heading off to college this fall that while most 18-year-olds probably don’t have a will, there… Read More »

The Dangers of Do-It-Yourself (DIY) Estate Planning

Consumers are becoming more confident that they can handle many common legal tasks on their own. Do-It-Yourself (DIY) companies have sprung up in many markets ranging from income tax preparation to estate planning, and these companies purport that their services are just as good as going to an attorney. Those who seek to replace proper… Read More »

Would ‘Carol Brady’ Have Updated Her Estate Plan?

The recent passing of television star Florence Henderson, known for her portrayal of the mother “Carol Brady” on “The Brady Bunch ,” offers us a chance to talk to our clients in blended families about the importance of updating estate planning documents whenever someone is recently divorced or remarried. The reason for Carol Brady’s first… Read More »

Blended Families and Your Estate Plan: How to Get It Right and Keep the Peace

The idea of “family” has changed dramatically over the last few generations. As a society, we’ve shifted away from thinking of family as a father, mother and children to one that—through divorce and remarriage(s)—can potentially comprise multiple sets of parents and offspring. Throw in the recent legalization of gay marriage and you’re looking at a… Read More »

Cover Me: Why a Durable Power of Attorney for Asset Management is a Smart Part of Your Estate Plan

In 2007, pop singer Britney Spears had a highly publicized meltdown. Caught on camera shaving her head, attacking a paparazzo with an umbrella and otherwise calling her sanity into question, Spears’s father took steps to contain his 26-year-old daughter’s erratic behavior and protect her multi-million dollar estate. While today, Jamie Spears’s actions appear to have… Read More »