There are people who think that when they die while married, that everything they own will automatically go to their spouse or children. But there are some situations when the laws can fail many common family situations. Read More

One of the many decisions you will need to make about your estate plan is whether you want to avoid probate or decide if it makes sense for you. Probate is the legal process for settling an estate after someone has died. It is also known as estate administration. The main purpose of probate is to provide inheritors of a deceased person’s property with clear title to the property. Here are some things to think about and what might work better for you. Read More

Hello Friends, I’ve got a topic I wanted to talk to you all about. This is something that’s not a new issue, but it’s something that started coming in more frequently to our office. So, there’s a thing called Medicaid Recovery Program. This program is designed so that if your family member received Medicaid benefits,… Read More

This is an excerpt of a recent taping of our new You Tube Show and podcast we call The Solution Point – where, with our guests, we reveal solutions to everyday problems in life, business and law. In this taping we met with Raul Garza, a top CPA, and he shared with us some of the ways to overcome the hurdles and challenges of the second round of the PPP loan. Read here for more… Read More

The biggest estate planning mistake that most people make is not making an estate plan. Shockingly, less than half of American adults report having a will or other estate planning documents. Why?
Here are four common reasons.
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Remember the saying, “You can fool some of the people some of the time, but not all of the people all of the time.” Word gets around quickly in an industry, so if you want to be successful for the long haul, you need a good reputation for your business dealings. Here is Part 2 of the rules I live by. Read More

In business there are some unwritten rules. I call them business ethics. Not everyone has business ethics, so be careful. Although the rules I will discuss here are not enforceable in court (for the most part), they will be extremely important for your continued success. Read More

What’s the best reason to make a will? To protect your family? Safeguard a legacy? Or is it, perhaps, to cause a little mischief? If you’re leaning towards that last reason, you’re not alone: there’s no shortage of bizarre bequests on record. So, to inspire you and celebrate the launch of our own free online will service, we’ve put together a round-up of 8 of the weirdest wills we could find. Read More

Once your estate planning documents are prepared and executed, you will probably feel a sense of relief and accomplishment. It is well deserved. You can be confident that your wishes will be carried out, costs and delays will be minimized, your dependents will be provided for, and beneficiaries and their share of your estate are clearly identified.

But some work still remains to be done.

All too often when someone dies or becomes incapacitated, relatives are completely unprepared to deal with the sea of decisions and practical details that must be attended to. Here is what you can do to prepare now. Read More

Estate planning is not a one-time event. Although your documents are drafted to account for foreseeable changes, there is no substitute for keeping your plan up to date. Failure to do so can lead to litigation among your heirs and a result you would not be happy with. Here are 18 life events that might trigger an update. Read More

Leaving a legacy can make a lasting impact and materially improve the circumstances and prospects of those you want to help. Here is how you can do that with Trusts. Read More

There is a saying, “People do not plan to fail, they fail to plan.” This is quite true, especially in business. You need to have a plan in order to know how you are going to direct your business. Here are my thoughts on setting up your business plan. Read More

We have said our good-byes to 2020 and now we can kick our heels, dance a jig, start to act like normal and do business “as usual”, right? Here is what you need to know about not avoiding writing your will. Read More

Being prepared is not just a Scout motto or code. Preparedness includes organizing your finances so that there is less panic by your family in the future. Preparing in such a way reminds me of Valentines Day, quite honestly. What better way to show your family you love them, by being prepared and organized for when that time comes. Here are my tips to get you started. Read More

It’s likely that you have heard that you need a Power of Attorney (POA) document. However, like many legal documents, a power of attorney can be confusing.
Here we break down the things you need to know about a power of attorney and what they do and don’t allow. Read More

Although many of us were shut down in 2020 and some have not returned to full strength, we need to remember our blessings and know that steel is tested with fire. Here is to the silver linings! Read More

We are proud to feature this article, contributed by our friend and client, Marcos Benavides, who is the CEO of Brennan & Company, an international freight forwarding company since 1913. We greatly appreciate his article and perspective. Read More

If you’re gathering with your family this holiday season, you may notice that things have changed. Your once-healthy parents may suddenly seem older and more fragile. Here’s an easy checklist of five important questions to ask yourself or your loved ones as you prepare or update an estate plan. Read More

Minors cannot be given significant amounts of money outright. Here are two effective ways to provide management for a minor’s inheritance are by naming a custodian pursuant to the Uniform Transfers to Minors Act (UTMA) or by setting up a trust in your will or revocable living trust. Read More