Our Blog - Surety Matters

  If you’ve made an estate plan, good for you: you’re ahead of many people in gifting your family (and yourself) with peace of mind. However, keep in mind, estate planning is not a “once…
Read Moreabout Updating Estate Plans: A Checklist

  Under the eyes of the law, trusts are separate and unique entities, and this is why they are incredibly useful estate planning tools. Trusts can be set up to accomplish a variety of goals….
Read Moreabout Trusts: Separate and Unique Entities

  Creating a will is an important way to organize affairs and prevent loved ones from having excess stress when we die. At the time a will is made, a trusted individual is designated to…
Read Moreabout Executing A Will: Duties Explained

  As Baby Boomers transfer trillions to younger generations, there are many decisions to be made, not just about what estate planning tools to use (wills or trusts) but about fundamentals, like whether to make…
Read Moreabout Wealth Transfer: OutRight Or In Trust?

  When music legend Prince died unexpectedly in 2016, it took six years for relations and business associates to come to agreement over his assets and affairs. The plans, announced in 2022, would have allowed…
Read Moreabout Rainy Days Continue For Prince’s Estate

  Ordinarily, probate court matters are routine, and may include admitting wills, greenlighting executors and ensuring creditors and beneficiaries receive the appropriate notifications in a timely manner. Sometimes disputes, such as will contests or claims…
Read Moreabout Probate Dispute?

  A brutal truth is that we can never know if or when we could experience a capacity decline that impedes our ability to run our businesses, handle our finances, and make sound decisions. That’s…
Read Moreabout Planning Ahead: Capacity Decline

  While the saying “you can’t take it with you,” is true of our money and possessions, taxes do follow us into death, remaining due until paid off, usually by the personal representative or other…
Read Moreabout Death and Taxes: Who Pays What?

  Among the gifts of later life marriages, is the hard won experience that informs relationships. Marrying later in life may have unique challenges too, since everything from our pasts comes with us, including children,…
Read Moreabout Older and Wiser: Marriage and Estate Plans