Who Would Raise Your Kids If You Couldn't?
Most parents have thought about who they would like to raise their kids if something happened to them, but what many parents don't realize: that agreement in your head, or the agreement with your godparents, doesn't exist in the eyes of the law. If something happened to you tonight, the decision about who raises your children wouldn't belong to you anymore. It would belong to a court, and a judge who doesn’t know you or your children, or what matters to you.
Here's what that actually means, and what you can do about it right now.
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No One Warned Her About the Widow Penalty. Her First Tax Return Did.
When a spouse dies, most surviving partners expect grief. They do not expect a tax bill. The "widow penalty" is a real and largely unrecognized consequence of losing a spouse that can cost a surviving partner thousands of dollars more every year in taxes and Medicare premiums, at the worst possible moment in their life. Here is what it is, who it affects, and what you can do now, while there is still time to plan.
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Her Husband Died Without a Will. Then Immigration Authorities Came to the Door
You may think Estate Planning is about who gets what after you die. It is also about who stays safe, housed, informed, and protected in the days after a loss. The reported story of Marie-Thérèse Ross-Mahé shows how grief can turn into legal chaos when a family is left without a clear plan.
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One Death, One Courtroom, One Child - and a Lesson Every Parent Needs to Hear
A Michigan court case shows what happens when a parent dies and no one thought to plan for it. Here's what every parent needs to know before something like this happens to their family.
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Estate Planning for the Modern Family: Blended, Chosen, and Everything in Between
Families today don’t fit into one tidy definition. They’re blended, beautifully complicated, sometimes messy, often unconventional, and always evolving. We’re here to help guide you in creating a plan that protects your loved ones, regardless of the family size.
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Help Your Parents Avoid These New Financial Scams - Part 2
In part one of this series, we explored two popular scams that are targeting older adults this year. In this week’s blog, we’re sharing two more scams that you and your parents need to be aware of, plus tips for staying protected. Read more…
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Help Your Parents Avoid These New Financial Scams - Part 1
In this two-part series, we’ll explore four of the most recent and insidious financial scams that have surfaced, shed light on their tactics, and provide you with practical steps to shield your aging parents from potential harm.
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The Death Tax Repeal Act of 2025: What It Could Mean for You and Your Loved Ones
There's a legislative proposal gaining momentum that could change everything about how wealth transfers between generations. But what would these changes really mean for you and your loved ones?
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Your Business Is Valuable - But Is It Built to Last Without You?
In this article, you will learn why so many businesses struggle during moments of transition, the three most common gaps that undermine business durability, and what steps you can take to protect the value you have worked so hard to create.
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Where Will You Live and How Will You Get and Pay For Care As You Age? A Legal and Practical Guide
Planning for aging involves more than choosing where to live. It requires understanding how residence decisions affect Medicaid eligibility, asset protection, and your legal rights.
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