If you are in a blended family, you may believe the simplest estate plan is the fairest one: “I’ll leave everything to my spouse. They’ll take care of my kids.” That approach often works in a first and only marriage. If you and your spouse share the same biological or adopted children, the surviving spouse […]

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For some people, the term family meeting may not bring to mind a pleasant gathering where everyone shares fond memories and warm feelings. When someone says, “We need to talk,” it often implies that something is wrong or that tough decisions need to be made or discussed. However, in estate planning, future problems are exactly […]

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When someone calls an estate planning attorney asking for a “quick look” at their documents, the request usually sounds straightforward. Maybe the documents were created using an online service, and they want to “just be sure” the documents are sound. Perhaps there’s been a move to a new state and a question about whether the […]

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Steward—a term for someone entrusted with the care of something that does not personally belong to them—is commonly used in such realms as business, public service, and environmentalism. Conservationists may be referred to as stewards of the land. Business leaders may describe themselves as stewards charged with acting in shareholders’ best interests. Public figures refer […]

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