Category Archives: Estate Planning
Planning for Long-Term Care: Protecting Your Assets While Preserving Dignity
As people age, one of the biggest concerns — both financially and emotionally — is the possibility of needing long-term care. Nursing homes, assisted-living communities, in-home caregivers, and memory-care facilities can provide excellent support, but they also come with costs that can quickly overwhelm a family’s savings. Many older adults worry about losing everything… Read More »
Digital Legacy: What Happens to Your Online Accounts, Photos, and Digital Assets After You’re Gone?
Most people know they need a will, a power of attorney, and maybe a trust. But very few realize that their digital life also needs an estate plan. Today, our lives are stored online. Family photos in cloud accounts, financial statements delivered by email, social media profiles, online subscriptions, loyalty points, stored passwords, and… Read More »
How to Talk to Your Children (and Grandchildren) About Your Estate Plan — Without the Awkwardness
Most parents want to make things easier for their kids, not harder. But when it comes to estate planning, a lot of families avoid the conversation altogether. Sometimes it’s because older adults don’t feel comfortable bringing up money or end-of-life decisions. Other times, adult children worry they’ll seem pushy or out of line if… Read More »
Communicating the Plan: How Seniors Can Involve Family Without Sacrificing Privacy or Control
Conversations about money, health, or end-of-life decisions are never easy. For many older adults, they can feel deeply personal or even off-limits. But when it comes to estate planning, staying silent can create more problems than it avoids. Without clarity, families are often left to guess what their loved ones would have wanted, which… Read More »
Why Incapacity Planning Matters Before a Health Crisis
No one really wants to think about a time when they might not be able to make all of their own decisions. But for many older adults, something like a sudden stroke, a fall, or the early signs of cognitive decline can change everything in an instant. This could leave families unsure who’s allowed… Read More »
Revocable versus Irrevocable Living Trusts: Which One is Right for You?
When planning your estate, one of the most important decisions you could face is whether to create a revocable trust or an irrevocable trust. Both tools can help you control how your assets are managed and distributed, but they function very differently. Understanding the pros and cons of each will help you choose the… Read More »
Power of Attorney, Advance Healthcare Directives, and Living Wills: Getting Your Incapacity Planning Right
When people think of estate planning, they often focus only on what happens after death: who inherits property, how assets are managed, and how to avoid probate. But a complete estate plan must also prepare for the possibility of incapacity during your lifetime. If illness, injury, or age prevents you from making your own… Read More »
What Happens When You Die Without a Will: Understanding Intestate Succession
Many people put off writing a will, believing they have plenty of time or that their families will “figure it out.” Unfortunately, if you pass away without a valid will in place, your estate does not distribute automatically to your loved ones the way you might assume. Instead, state intestate succession laws determine who… Read More »
When Should You Review Your Estate Plan? Life Events That Should Trigger a Review
Creating a will or trust is one of the most important steps you can take to protect your loved ones and secure your legacy. But estate planning is not a “set it and forget it” process. Life changes–and so should your plan. An outdated will or trust can lead to unintended consequences, family disputes,… Read More »
Advanced Directives versus Living Wills: What Every Virginian Should Know
When it comes to planning for the future, the majority of Virginians will focus on wills, trusts, and how their assets will be distributed after their death. Those are definitely important pieces to your estate plan, but it’s equally important to plan for unexpected events that may happen while you’re still alive. Two of… Read More »