The F-Word That Can Break Your Estate Plan: Funding Let’s talk about the F-word. No, not that one. We’re talking about funding—and if your trust isn’t funded, your estate plan might not work the way you think it will. Many people walk out of their attorney’s office, binder in hand, feeling accomplished. The trust is…
Does Your Fiduciary Have the Information Needed to File a Death Certificate? When someone passes away, one of the first legal steps is completing the death certificate. It’s required for funeral arrangements, accessing financial accounts, claiming benefits, and beginning estate administration. As part of a well-prepared estate plan, it’s important to ensure your fiduciary—the person you’ve…
106 Children, One Estate Plan: A Powerful Lesson in Defining Legacy When most people think about estate planning, they picture a will, a trust, and perhaps a conversation about who inherits the family home or retirement accounts. But at its core, estate planning is not just about assets—it’s about intention. That principle was recently brought into…
What We Can Learn from the Jimmy Buffett Estate Dispute When most people think of Jimmy Buffett, they picture Margaritaville, beach vibes, and a carefree lifestyle. But after his passing in 2023, the administration of his estate has been anything but relaxed. Buffett left behind an estimated $275 million estate, including real estate, vehicles, private planes,…
Early-Onset Alzheimer’s: What It Is and Why Planning Ahead Is So Important When we think of Alzheimer’s disease, we often imagine someone in their late 70s or 80s. But Alzheimer’s doesn’t always wait until old age. In fact, a rare form of the disease—called early-onset Alzheimer’s—can affect people in their 40s or 50s, sometimes even…
