A typical initial consultation with an estate planning lawyer may look like this: you meet, you answer questions about your family and assets, and the lawyer tells you what documents you need – typically a will, trust, health care directive, and power of attorney – and what they will cost. This is a recipe for […]

If you’re like most people, you probably assume that when the time comes, someone—your spouse, your children, or maybe a close friend—will be there to take care of you. But the truth is, more Americans than ever are living alone as they age, often without a clear plan for support. According to AARP, more than […]

Losing someone you love reshapes your world in ways you may never expect. Some changes are obvious—you no longer share birthdays, dinners, or conversations. But the harder truth is that grief often weaves itself into the smallest details of daily life. You may notice it when you pour coffee into only one mug, when you […]

Our colleague told us a story recently. Her son moved into his first apartment at college and had to go grocery shopping on his own for the first time. After he got back from the store, he called her in disbelief: “Food is so expensive! Can you help me figure out how to meal plan […]

A client once told us she would give anything to hear her grandmother’s voice again. Her grandmother had been the heart of the family—the one who told stories about how she survived the Great Depression and how she fell in love with her husband. But when she passed away, those stories went with her. They […]

Picture this: You and your spouse spend decades building a successful business, accumulating assets, and creating a stable life for your family. You think you’ve done everything right with your estate planning. Then tragedy strikes, and a simple paperwork error costs your children $1.5 million in taxes they never should have owed. This isn’t a […]

When wrestling legend Hulk Hogan died at age 71, the world lost an icon. But behind the headlines about his estimated $25 million estate and decades of wrestling fame lies a heartbreaking family story that offers powerful lessons for anyone with people they love. This story demonstrates that wealth and fame can’t substitute for the […]

You hired a lawyer, signed your estate planning documents, and filed them safely away. Or maybe your financial advisor created your documents, or you might have done them yourself online, for free using AI. You think your work is done. But then you die, and your loved ones are left battling court delays, family conflict, […]

When Anna Harp lost her father, Rudolph Clausing, she didn’t get to say goodbye. It was January 2021, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Her dad had been battling lung disease when he contracted the virus, and strict hospital protocols meant his family couldn’t be by his side in his final days. Anna was […]

You’ve just lost someone important to you, and now you’re responsible for their home. Maybe it’s sitting empty while you figure out what to do next. Maybe you’re planning to sell it, or perhaps other family members want to move in eventually. Whatever your plans, you’re about to discover that an empty house needs almost […]