Our Blog - Surety Matters

  Having more then one owner named on property or financial accounts generally enables a smooth transition upon the death of one owner. Estate planning experts share examples and advice about the usefulness of joint…
Read Moreabout Joint Ownership: For Convenience?

  Family and estate lawyers see a lot—and it is not always pretty. Accordingly, attorneys advice that it’s best to button up estate plans carefully, so that conflicts cannot spring up through the cracks. Here,…
Read Moreabout We’re A Happy Family?

  Yes, it is possible to serve as an executor for a deceased loved one—and be a beneficiary of some of their assets too. In fact, quite commonly, the executor named when a will is…
Read Moreabout Executor and Beneficiary?

Estate Planning Optimized We tend to equate estate planning with preparing for death and gifting assets to loved ones. In the face of both longer life spans and increased awareness (thanks COVID?) that anything can…
Read Moreabout Estate Planning Optimized

  When we die, someone has to bring our affairs to closure. This is true whether we have left a will, a trust, or, die without a plan. The name for this role differs depending…
Read Moreabout Personal Representative?

  The public process of reconciling the affairs of the deceased can be confusing and filled with terminology that is not typically used on a day to day basis. Understandably, grief can interfere with navigating…
Read Moreabout The Probate Process: An Overview

  Setting up a trust can be a very helpful way to put plans in place for our assets—and future care needs too. Experts remind us, however, that trusts are not a magic wand for…
Read Moreabout Trusts Require Careful Decisions

  Whether you have a little or a lot to gift to your favorite organization or cause, you can arrange to do so via either a will or a trust. Though charitable giving is possible…
Read Moreabout Charitable Giving: Will vs Trust?

  When you open a bank account, or participate in the company sponsored retirement plan, you most likely named a beneficiary. Good news: in essence, you’ve already begun your estate plan. Keep going with these…
Read Moreabout You Probably Already Started…