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What Probate Is and How To Avoid It — Part 2
Unless you’ve created an estate plan that works to keep your family out of court, when you die (or become incapacitated) many of your assets must go through probate before those assets can be distributed to your heirs. Like most court proceedings, probate can be time-consuming, costly, and open to the public, and because of…
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What Probate Is and How To Avoid It — Part 1
Unless you’ve created a proper estate plan, upon your passing many of your assets must first go through the court process known as probate before those assets can be distributed to your heirs. During probate, the court supervises a number of different legal actions, all of which are aimed at finalizing your affairs and settling…
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Protecting Your LGBTQIA+ Family: An Estate Planning Guide for Non-Biological Parents
As an LGBTQIA+ non-biological parent, June sparks a flurry of Pride celebrations reminding you of the remarkable progress the community has made, while also shining a light on the ongoing fight for full equality. One area where you may still face unique legal hurdles is in ensuring your parental rights are properly protected, if you…
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Avoid These 4 Common Estate Planning Pitfalls
If you’re a parent, you’ve always strived to provide the best for your family, ensuring their well-being and securing their future. However, even the most well-intentioned plans can falter if you overlook the complexities of estate planning. Let’s explore some common pitfalls that parents often encounter, then offer practical strategies to navigate them successfully. Heads…
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4 Reasons Why a Cheap Estate Plan Won’t Work For Your Family
Most people, regardless of stature and wealth, likely do not know how to evaluate estimates when shopping for an estate plan. Shopping for an estate plan based on getting the lowest cost plan possible is often the fastest path to leaving your family with an empty set of documents (maybe in a beautiful binder, but…
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Crafting Your Lasting Legacy With Estate Planning
Legacy and estate planning are often misunderstood and perceived as “only for the wealthy” and/or “philanthropic”. But that couldn’t be further from the truth. Legacy isn’t just about money or wealth. Legacy includes capturing your life stories, passing on your values, and ensuring your loved ones have a record of the essence of what matters…
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10 Steps to Take Now to Secure a Comfortable Retirement – Part 2
Welcome back to our discussion on securing a comfortable retirement! In the first part of this series, we explored essential steps including estate planning, preparing for long-term care, and passing on your legacy. As we continue with the second part of our series, we’ll delve into additional areas that are crucial for ensuring your golden…
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10 Steps to Take Now to Secure a Comfortable Retirement – Part 1
Retirement is more than just an end to the working years; it’s an exciting new phase of life that requires thoughtful preparation and strategic planning. There’s no time like the present to explore 10 steps you can take now to ensure a comfortable and fulfilling retirement. In this article, we’ll discuss the first 5 steps,…
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A Gift of Peace and Power for Every Parent
Parents spend their days and nights thinking about how to make sure their children are happy, healthy, and safe. If you’re a parent, you know. Every parent deserves the peace of mind and power to create financial security for themselves and their children with thoughtful estate planning. Most people have a general concept of what…
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Here’s What You Should Know About A Will
Having a Will, otherwise known as a Last Will & Testament, is important—and all adults over age 18 should have this document in place. Yet for all but a few people, creating a Will is just one small part of an effective estate plan that works to keep your loved ones out of court and…
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What Happens To Your Social Media Accounts When You Die?
When you die, what happens to your online life? Each social media platform has its own rules for dealing with the accounts of deceased users, ranging from permanent deletion to transforming accounts into places for mourning and memory. Understanding these options is essential for managing digital assets responsibly and respecting your wishes. So let’s take…
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Why Estate Planning Is the Best Use of Your Tax Refund
So you got a tax refund this year. Hooray! While you may be tempted to spend it on a vacation, or put it away for a rainy day, there’s an even better way to put that refund to work for you: estate planning. Here’s why.
