Our Blog - Surety Matters

  When it comes to estate plans, there are no laws requiring parents to evenly divide assets among children. Equality often makes the most sense, both practically and emotionally. However, life circumstances may prompt questions…
Read Moreabout Fairness and Estate Planning

  What is the right amount of money to leave adult children? This is an important question for families who have had the good luck to accumulate more money then necessary for a satisfying and…
Read Moreabout Inheritance: Too Much?

  When estate plans involve trusts, lawyers advise careful consideration in naming the trustee. Families may think they are immune to conflict, but grappling with death and financial decision making can present difficult challenges for…
Read Moreabout Trustees: Impartiality and Good Judgment

  Executing a will can be fraught with difficult tasks. For example, debts must be resolved before assets are distributed—and prolonged waiting can lead to anxious beneficiaries. Add grief to the mix and conflicts can…
Read Moreabout Do’s and Don’ts for Executors

When creating a trust, the designation of trustee is among the most important decisions the trustor makes. As a fiduciary, the trustee has significant responsibilities on behalf of beneficiaries—but may not necessarily have deep financial,…
Read Moreabout Directed Trusts: A Basic Overview

If you and your family are among the many millions of Americans who have not yet figured out how to pass your assets to the next generation (aka estate planning), try taking some creative inspiration…
Read Moreabout Encanto: Inspiration for Estate Planning

  State laws of intestate succession that typically date back to the 1950s determine the relations who receive our assets if we die with a will. Experts point out that this can create unfortunate disconnects,…
Read Moreabout Modern Families vs Intestate Succession?

  Amidst the housing affordability crisis across the country, thoughtful planning for what becomes of our homes when we die has the potential to generate a spiral of good for our families—and even our wider…
Read Moreabout Aging In Place: Estate Planning

  Many retirees opt to spend their late years in sunny Arizona—even if that means forgoing a local family support network. Recognizing this, Arizona probate courts appoint fiduciaries to serve as personal representatives, or even…
Read Moreabout Public Fiduciary Explained