Family-Focused Estate Planning

Family gathered together while planning for their future

The Estate Planning Mistake Divorced Fathers Cannot Afford to Miss

If you are a divorced father, you already know something that most married fathers don't: showing up for your kids takes more deliberate effort than it looks like from the outside.

Young family walking together in a park

When Love Makes You a Father, but the Law Does Not

If you are a stepfather, you know the difference between the legal definition of father and the real one.

Two parents holding a baby's hands while walking in a field

Who Would Raise Your Kids If You Couldn’t? (What You Don’t Know About the First 72 Hours)

There are two kinds of fathers.

Parents holding a baby's hands while walking in a field at evening

Most parents think they have answered the guardian question. Many haven’t. Learn what happens to your children in the first 72 hours after an emergency.

I work with parents on this exact question all the time, and especially this time of year, sitting right between Mother's Day and Father's Day, the love you have for your children…

Young family walking together in a park

Here’s What Can Happen to Blended Families When a Spouse Dies

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."

Family gathered together while planning for their future

Frozen Accounts, Court Delays, and Grief: What Happens in the Probate Process

Your mom told you not to worry; she had everything handled. You were her power of attorney, helping her pay bills and manage her accounts. When she passed away, you assumed you'd…

Parents holding a baby's hands while walking in a field at evening

Why Your Family Needs a Mission Statement

Why Your Family Needs a Mission Statement

Parent and two children walking together in a field at sunset

Got Retirement Savings? Must Read …

Got Retirement Savings? Must Read …

Couple looking toward a house they are planning for their future

The White Elephant Gift Nobody Wants: Family Conflict

At least White Elephant has structure. There are rules, turns, limits, and an understanding that it’s all in good fun. Estate disputes don’t work that way.

Grandmother, mother, and child hugging together

How to Talk to Your Loved Ones About Death, Money, and Estate Planning at the Holidays

Most people put off estate planning because they don’t want to face their mortality, or they think of death as something that won’t happen anytime soon. Money is also too often a…