Does Treating Your Children Fairly Mean Unequal Inheritances?
When thinking through their estate plan and how they want their assets (money and property) managed after they pass away, most parents wish to treat their children equally, often out ...
How to Minimize the (Voluntary) Federal Estate Tax with Portability
Most people may be surprised to learn that the federal estate tax is considered by some to be voluntary. Estate planning attorneys used to say, “You only pay if you ...
The Deaths of Gene Hackman and His Wife
When investigators entered the home of legendary actor Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Machiko Arakawa, in a gated community outside Santa Fe, New Mexico, on February 26, 2025, they ...
Want To Disinherit Someone? This Is What You Need To Know
Disinheritance—the intentional exclusion of a family member, usually a child or spouse, from receiving part of your estate after your death—is more common than you might think. It is also ...
Three Estate Planning Mistakes Farmers and Ranchers Make—and How to Avoid Them
Farming and ranching is more than just a livelihood; it is about preserving a legacy and a way of life. Unfortunately, many farmers and ranchers fail to create a comprehensive ...
5 Reasons Uncle Bill May Not Make a Good Trustee
If you have created a trust that you intend to last for decades, choosing the right trustee is critical to ensuring the trust’s longevity and ultimate success. Initially, you ...
How an Inheritance Can Enhance Your Loved One’s Educational Experience
A primary goal of estate planning is to financially provide for your loved ones. One way to ensure that they are set up for lifelong success is with an inheritance ...
Ways to Keep a Loved One’s Memory Alive After They Pass
When somebody close to us passes away, we are left with constant reminders of them. Maybe it is a jacket hanging in the closet that still bears the scent of ...
4 Tips to Avoid a Will or Trust Contest
Fighting over provisions in your will or trust can derail your final wishes, rapidly deplete your financial legacy, and tear your loved ones apart. However, with proper planning, you can ...
Should I Include My Unborn Child in My Estate Plan?
Estate planning is an exercise in anticipating potential future events that could affect your plans for what happens if you become incapacitated (unable to manage your own affairs during your ...