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A Quick Guide to Writing and Publishing Your Family History
Writing your family history can be a wonderful way to leave a legacy. With the world going digital, it may seem old-fashioned to print a book about your family’s history. But the truth is, a screen can never replace the experience of flipping through pages of pictures...
Recording and Transcribing Family Conversations on Your Smartphone
With all the holiday gatherings coming up, this is the perfect time of year to get around the table and record your family’s stories. Smartphones have made this easier than ever: turn on a voice record app, set it in the middle of the table, and start asking grandma...
How to Protect Your Family’s Inheritance
I often speak to local associations and service groups about estate planning. Oftentimes, the topic is about protecting the money people have worked so hard for. While proper planning can make things easier on your heirs after you're gone, few people consider how...
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You’ve lost a loved one – now do you need a lawyer or not?
Do you need a lawyer to help you after you've lost a loved one? Well, it depends. Do you know what needs to be done? Are you having any problems transferring assets? If everything is in joint tenancy - meaning the survivor becomes the owner if the first spouse dies...
Name Guardians for Your Kids
Have you taken steps to protect your kids? The Kids Guardianship Kit is your resource to choose and name guardians for your kids if something happens to you. I know, it's hard to picture anyone else raising our kids. And hopefully that will never happen. But if it...
Estate Planning Basics Workshops
Do you know you need a will but don't know where to start? Is the thought of estate planning so overwhelming you give up before you begin? Do you know how old your will is? Are your kids as good with money as you are? Do you keep putting off for someday what you...
Two Types of Asset Organization Mistakes
There are two types of asset organization mistakes that mess up estate plans. What do you own? How long would it take you to make a list of all of your assets, debts, income and the contact information for each of those? Would it take a while? If you passed away...
Families Face Aging Parents – Trends and Struggles
Aging Trends and Obstacles of Legacy and Control There are some things going on in our society now that makes aging, and the way families deal with it, different than it used to be. The issues below are things I see my clients facing as we discuss planning for aging...
You can pick your friends, but you can’t pick when you need your healthcare directives
Peace of Mind: Can you access your important documents 24/7? I am writing this from Nashville, Tennessee, where I am on a family vacation. Every year, we spend a week with my parents, brother, sister in law, and nephew. Being out of town reminded me of an important...
Aging – There’s Only One Alternative
Getting older. We are all faced with it. As my dad has said, if you don't want to grow old, there is only one other option. (You know, die young...) As I work with clients, I am constantly confronted with aging and death. How the circle of life comes around and all of...
Please, not another blog about Michael Jackson!
There are 2 kinds of people in the world. Some can't get enough of the Michael Jackson saga. Others are complaining about how all the real news in the world is being drowned out by old Michael videos and talking heads analyzing his dysfunctional family. If you're in...
Wealth Transfer or Wealth Reception – Part #2 – The College Years
I went to U of I in Champaign-Urbana. Both undergrad and law school. A lot has changed since I left law school in 1995. Many new buildings, and tuition has gone way up. Do you know how much it will cost now for 4 years of undergrad, including tuition, books, room and...
Michael Jackson: King of Pop (and Estate Planning?)
Are you tired yet of hearing about the Michael Jackson saga? One thing for sure, the gossip media should have plenty to talk about for quite a while. It turns out Michael did have a Last Will & Testament after all. (Thanks to those who sent me links to good...