Moms spend their days and nights thinking about how to make sure their children are happy, healthy, and safe. If you’re a mom, you know. If you aren’t a mom, you were born because of a mom. It’s one of the two things we all have in common. So as Mother’s Day approaches, let’s talk about the most meaningful gift you can give or receive on this hallmark holiday that means a lot: every mom deserves the peace of mind and power to create financial security for themselves and their children with thoughtful estate planning. Now you may be thinking, “Estate planning? Really? Isn’t that just for rich people?” Or, “How does drafting a will give me peace of mind and financial security?” Glad you asked! Most people have a general concept of what “estate planning” means, but in reality, don’t fully understand it. Believe it or not, estate planning is far more complex than just drafting a will, and it’s not just for rich people, though doing it will leave your family much more “rich” than if you don’t. Once you appreciate the power of estate planning, you’ll know why it has the power to “gift” you peace of mind. Let’s start by parsing out what estate planning really is and why it matters for every mom you know, including yourself if you’re a mom. Why Estate Planning Matters for Moms (and Dads too) Imagine having a roadmap that clearly shows how your financial assets, the guardianship of your children, and even your most cherished possessions are handled, should anything happen to you. Now imagine that your roadmap is a legal document and the people receiving that roadmap are required to abide by your wishes and are able to easily do so because your wishes are so clear and you’ve left a guide for your family along with the roadmap. That’s what estate planning is: a legally enforceable plan for your future, and ideally a guide to help your loved ones navigate the plan. Contrary to what most people think, estate planning isn’t just for the wealthy or those who are nearing the end of life. It’s for everyone, including you! Thoughtful estate planning gives you the power to make decisions now that will impact your and your family’s future, giving you peace of mind to know you aren’t leaving a mess for the people you love. You may be wondering, “Really? How does estate planning give me peace of mind?” Relax – grab a mimosa or some tea, kick your feet up, and let’s talk about how it works. Estate planning allows you to specify who will care for your children if you’re unable to do so yourself. It’s undoubtedly a tough subject, but choosing a guardian you trust to raise your kids as you would brings immense comfort, and may even guide you to build deeper relationships with the people you’d call upon to care for your children if you cannot. Knowing that your wishes are written down and legally protected can relieve a lot of stress, and relax any of those “stressful in the background” thoughts about that one person you would never want raising your kids. Without a plan, a judge would decide who takes care of your children if you cannot, and they might not choose the person you would have wanted. Or worst of all, they may even choose the one person you’d never want raising your kids because maybe they look great on paper. Think about it: a judge knows nothing about you or your kids. They only know what they see in court filings. That’s it. They’d have to make decisions with no input from you. Kinda scary, right? When done right, estate planning also lets you direct the distribution of your property and finances. Specifically, it ensures your assets are transferred to the people you choose without unnecessary delays, legal hurdles, or family conflict. This not only secures your children’s future but also simplifies the administrative process at a time when your family should have space and time to mourn and heal, not get tangled in legal complexities. And if they do get tangled up in conflict, it’s highly likely that those relationships will be forever destroyed. That also happens. Again, more often than you may think. Here’s the bottom line. When you get these things in order, you can die in peace, and that means you live life more fully. Estate Planning Equals Empowerment Estate planning puts the power in your hands. It’s a declaration of your values and your voice, legally secured to guide your family when you can’t be there. By setting out your wishes clearly, you prevent disputes and ensure your legacy lives on exactly as you intend. After all, someone will have to wrap up your affairs after you die, so it may as well be you, now, while you’re living. So step into your power, safeguard your children’s future, and cement your role as the heart and protector of your family. In the process of getting your estate planning handled, when you work with us, you’re going to learn a tremendous amount about your finances, and your financial literacy is going to grow in a way that will result in you feeling exponentially more financially secure and clear. Financial Protection In Case of Loss Estate planning is especially vital if the unthinkable happens and your spouse or partner dies. Many mothers face not only devastating emotional loss but also the potential for significant financial instability – especially if you aren’t the primary breadwinner in your family. An effective estate plan, however, includes setting up mechanisms such as life insurance, trusts, and instructions for pension or retirement benefits, which can provide you with financial support when it’s most needed. There’s absolutely no reason you and your children need to compromise your lifestyle should something happen to your partner. For example, an estate plan ensures that you have access to joint assets and that any individual assets held by your spouse or partner are transferred to you or your children without delay. This can be critical in preventing financial hardship during an already challenging time, ensuring that you have the resources needed to maintain your home, cover living expenses, and continue to provide for your children’s needs. The Personal Family Lawyer Difference By now, it should be clear that creating an effective estate plan that honors your wishes and secures your and your family’s financial future isn’t as simple as creating a will. It’s more complicated than that and can be overwhelming, particularly with the legal jargon and the multitude of decisions that need to be made. These decisions are hard, too. When you’re living your life, probably the last thing you want to think about is your death. Fortunately, you don’t have to navigate the process alone. We’re uniquely trained and trusted advisors who can guide you through the process, ensuring that your plan fits your specific circumstances and family dynamics. We can also advise you on tax implications and the best ways to structure your finances to benefit you and your heirs. Finally, we’re committed to serving you and your family for the long term by checking in to update your plan as life changes, assets change, and your kids grow. By working with us, you create a plan that is thorough, thoughtful, and works when you and your family need it to. Let Us Give You the Gift of Peace and Power At our law firm, we don’t just give legal advice or draft documents. We take your power and peace of mind seriously. We also know you’re busy. We have processes in place that make getting your estate plan in place as easy as possible, all while being thorough, thoughtful, and mindful of your time and budget. If you want to learn more about how we can help you create an estate plan that gives you the Mother’s Day gift of power and peace of mind – so you can live life to the fullest – schedule a complimentary 15-minute call with our office. This article is a service of Kendra Strong-Tehrani at Strong Law . We don’t just draft documents; we ensure you make informed and empowered decisions about life and death, for yourself and the people you love. That's why we offer a Life & Legacy Planning Session , during which you will get more financially organized than you’ve ever been before and make all the best choices for the people you love. You can begin by calling our office today to schedule a Life & Legacy Planning Session . The content is sourced from Personal Family Lawyer® for use by Personal Family Lawyer® firms, a source believed to be providing accurate information. This material was created for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as ERISA, tax, legal, or investment advice. If you are seeking legal advice specific to your needs, such advice services must be obtained on your own separate from this educational material. Proper estate planning can keep your family out of conflict, out of court, and out of the public eye. If you’re ready to create a comprehensive estate plan, contact us to schedule your Life & Legacy Planning Session . Even if you already have a plan in place, we will review it and help you bring it up to date to avoid heartache for your family. Schedule online today .

In the digital age, online scams and cyber attacks are becoming more frequent, posing risks to not only everyday users but also to lawyers who manage clients’ sensitive information. But there’s no need to fear if you take measures to keep your data safe. And if (when?) you’re working with a lawyer, you should also know what actions lawyers take to protect your data. Taking these two approaches, let’s discuss how you can safeguard yourself from these digital attackers and how lawyers ensure their clients’ data is protected from the bad guys. Since this article is being published around “Star Wars Day” (i.e., May 4th, as in “May the fourth (Force) be with you”), I’ll refer to the bad guys as the “Dark Side” just for fun. 7 Tips to Protect Yourself From the Dark Side 1. Navigating the internet safely requires vigilance and knowledge about potential threats, even as the Dark Side constantly comes up with online scams and attacks designed to steal personal information or harm your devices. Here are some essential steps to protect yourself from these cyber threats and ensure your digital experience remains secure. 2. Verify who you’re interacting with and confirm the identity of anyone asking for personal details online. Scammers often pretend to be from a trusted company. If you receive an email or message that looks suspicious, or even a little off, contact the company directly using information from their official website. 3. Create strong passwords. This is crucial. Your passwords should be long, unique, and include a combination of letters, numbers, and symbols. Avoid using common words or sequences that can be easily guessed. Additionally, use different passwords for different sites. A password manager can help you generate and manage secure passwords. 4. Don’t click on links or attachments without knowing who the sender is. Clicking on links or downloading attachments from unknown sources can be dangerous. These can lead to fake websites designed to steal your information or install malware on your device. When in doubt, don’t click, especially when links come to you via text. Never, ever click a link sent to you via text without verifying that the sender is a real friend or company you’re doing business with. 5. Keep your software and devices updated. Regular updates help fix security vulnerabilities. Use antivirus software to protect against malware and other threats. 6. Educate yourself about the types of scams that exist, such as phishing emails that ask for personal information or offer too-good-to-be-true deals. Being aware is your first line of defense. 7. If you get a call from a bank, a government agency, or even from a child or grandchild asking for money or gift cards for any reason, or access to your computer, tell the caller you’ll call them back. Hang up and call your child or grandchild directly, OR the bank or government agency and find out if they were actually calling you. As an added measure, with your family, have a family “code phrase” that must be spoken out loud in the event of an emergency, such as “blackie is a brown dog” or something unique that only your family would know. MOST IMPORTANT: Never give anyone remote access to your computer, unless it is from a tech support company you engaged with proactively, meaning you called the tech support line on the company’s website directly and you initiated the request for support. Scammers will pretend they are from Coinbase or your bank and tell you they need to access your computer to resolve your account problem. Don’t fall for it. It’s also important to note here that the elderly are the most targeted group for online scammers. So if your parents fall into this age group, pass along this article to them so they’re armed with knowledge to protect themselves. The Dark Side Won This Time, Now What? Even after taking all these measures, sometimes the bad guys get away with it and scam you or a loved one. If you think you’ve fallen victim to a scam, it’s important to act quickly. Immediately inform your bank or relevant service provider if you’ve shared any sensitive information. They can take steps to protect your account. You should also update your passwords right away, especially if you believe they may have been compromised. Again, ensure your new passwords are strong and unique. You may also want to report the scam to the alleged sender, so they know someone is impersonating them and can take protective measures themselves. And if applicable, report the scam to the relevant online platform, or even the local police, consumer protection agencies, or internet crime complaint centers. Rest Easy Knowing We Have Your Back At our law firm, we don’t just give legal advice; we’re your trusted advisor for life. If you’ve been scammed, we can help you set up your affairs in such a way that there are layers of protection built-in so it doesn’t happen again. We’re also here for your family. If your elderly parents don’t have an estate plan in place – or it’s been a while since they had it reviewed – we’re here for them too. We can help them protect not only their data, but everything they want to pass on to you. If you want to learn more about how we can help you and your parents create a Life & Legacy estate plan that keeps your family out of court and conflict and ensures your plan works when you need it to, schedule a complimentary 15-minute call with our office. This article is a service of Kendra Strong-Tehrani at Strong Law . We don’t just draft documents; we ensure you make informed and empowered decisions about life and death, for yourself and the people you love. That's why we offer a Life & Legacy Planning Session , during which you will get more financially organized than you’ve ever been before and make all the best choices for the people you love. You can begin by calling our office today to schedule a Life & Legacy Planning Session . The content is sourced from Personal Family Lawyer® for use by Personal Family Lawyer® firms, a source believed to be providing accurate information. This material was created for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as ERISA, tax, legal, or investment advice. If you are seeking legal advice specific to your needs, such advice services must be obtained on your own separate from this educational material. Proper estate planning can keep your family out of conflict, out of court, and out of the public eye. If you’re ready to create a comprehensive estate plan, contact us to schedule your Life & Legacy Planning Session . Even if you already have a plan in place, we will review it and help you bring it up to date to avoid heartache for your family. Schedule online today .

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 a look at the various policies of major social media sites and what you can do to make sure your accounts are handled the way you want. After all, our social media accounts reflect our personalities, interests, and memories, so we want them handled with care. What Each Platform Allows Let’s take a look at the practical aspects and discuss what each digital platform allows or requires. Note that these provisions are updated as of April 2024, as this article is being published. Facebook. Facebook offers two options for accounts of deceased users: either close the account permanently or convert it into a memorial account where loved ones can share memories. The platform allows you to designate a “Legacy Contact” while you’re alive; someone who can manage your memorialized account by updating your profile picture, accepting friend requests, and posting memories. Importantly, they cannot log into the account or view your private message history. Instagram. Instagram also allows accounts to be either memorialized or permanently deleted. A memorialized Instagram account will display a “Remembering” label and won’t appear in public spaces like the “Explore” section. The process requires proof of death, such as a death certificate, so someone will need to provide that after you’re gone. TikTok. TikTok permits family members or legal representatives to request the deactivation of a deceased user’s account by providing appropriate proof of death. Unlike Facebook and Instagram, and at the time of this writing, TikTok doesn’t currently offer a memorialization option, so your account is permanently removed once the request is processed. X. X (formerly known as Twitter) allows the family to close the account of a deceased user. This involves submitting proof of death, after which your account and its contents are permanently deleted. X doesn’t provide a memorialization option. YouTube. YouTube is covered by Google’s overall policies, which offer a proactive feature called the Inactive Account Manager. This allows you to set instructions for your account if you become inactive for a specified period. You can also choose to have your data shared with trusted contacts or have the account deleted. LinkedIn. On LinkedIn, immediate family members or colleagues can request to remove a deceased member’s profile by providing proof of death. LinkedIn focuses on maintaining a professional network and so doesn’t offer account memorialization. How To Close Or Memorialize An Account It’s important to know that social media platforms generally discourage logging into a deceased person’s account as it poses privacy and security risks. To close or memorialize your account, family members must directly contact the service and provide the necessary documentation. They won’t be able to make a phone call, either – they’ll have to find out how to close or memorialize your account on each site separately, which can be time-consuming and frustrating. But there’s a better way! You can create a plan that helps your loved ones navigate the process. To do that, you need a trusted estate planning lawyer. What An Estate Planning Attorney Can Do A trusted estate planning attorney plays a crucial role in helping manage your digital legacy, ensuring that your wishes for your online accounts are carried out after your passing. Here’s what a skilled attorney can do to help ensure that your loved ones have the necessary information and authority to manage your accounts: 1. Create a Digital Asset Plan An estate planning attorney can help you draft a digital asset plan that details your wishes for each of your online accounts. This plan can specify which accounts should be closed and which should be memorialized. It includes all kinds of digital assets, from social media accounts and emails to digital wallets and personal blogs. Your attorney can also guide you in appointing an executor, a person who will be responsible for managing your online assets according to your wishes. A knowledgeable attorney will explain the responsibilities involved and help ensure that the executor has the legal authority they need to act on your behalf with various digital platforms. 2. Provide Necessary Legal Documentation A skilled attorney can prepare necessary legal documents that authorize your executor to access your accounts. This might include special powers of attorney and directives that are included in your will, trust, or in a separate document. 3. Secure Your Account Information A trusted attorney can suggest secure ways to store your account usernames, passwords, and any other necessary information. This information can be kept in a way that respects privacy and security but becomes accessible to the digital executor or designated individuals after your death. 4. Update the Plan Over Time As laws and platform policies change, a trusted estate planning attorney can help update your digital estate plan. This ensures that it remains compliant with new regulations and continues to reflect your wishes accurately. However, it’s important to know that most estate planning attorneys treat their clients as a “one-and-done” transaction. Once your plan is signed, they won’t contact you again to ensure that your plan stays updated over time. And they won’t explain that failure to update your plan regularly means your plan won’t work when you need it. We’ll keep in touch for your lifetime to ensure your plan works. How We Can Help We don’t merely dispense legal counsel; we safeguard all your assets and guide you to make the right decisions for your unique situation. We take the time to fully understand what’s important to you. Together, we’ll craft a thoughtful and holistic plan so you and your family can avoid the stress, conflict, and chaos that comes with incomplete planning – including incomplete digital planning. To learn more about how we approach estate planning from a place of heart and understanding, schedule a complimentary 15-minute call with our office. This article is a service of Kendra Strong-Tehrani at Strong Law . We don’t just draft documents; we ensure you make informed and empowered decisions about life and death, for yourself and the people you love. That's why we offer a Life & Legacy Planning Session , during which you will get more financially organized than you’ve ever been before and make all the best choices for the people you love. You can begin by calling our office today to schedule a Life & Legacy Planning Session . The content is sourced from Personal Family Lawyer® for use by Personal Family Lawyer® firms, a source believed to be providing accurate information. This material was created for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as ERISA, tax, legal, or investment advice. If you are seeking legal advice specific to your needs, such advice services must be obtained on your own separate from this educational material. Proper estate planning can keep your family out of conflict, out of court, and out of the public eye. If you’re ready to create a comprehensive estate plan, contact us to schedule your Life & Legacy Planning Session . Even if you already have a plan in place, we will review it and help you bring it up to date to avoid heartache for your family. Schedule online today .

When that extra bit of money from your tax refund lands in your bank account, it’s easy to start dreaming about all the ways you can use it. Financial experts may tell you that it’s a chance to pay off debts, tuck away savings for an emergency, or add to your retirement savings. You, on the other hand, may want to splurge on something special. However, there’s an often-overlooked option that not only provides immediate satisfaction but ensures long-term benefits for both you and your loved ones: estate planning. Estate planning might sound like a complex and daunting chore reserved for the wealthy, but it’s actually a straightforward and crucial process for everyone. In its most basic terms, estate planning involves making a plan for what happens to your belongings and finances after you’re gone or if you become incapacitated. Think of it as creating a roadmap for your loved ones to follow, ensuring they’re taken care of and know exactly how to handle your estate according to your wishes. After all, someone will have to do something with your stuff after you’re gone, and if you’re the one who takes care of it while you can, you can save your loved ones a lot of pain. You’ll also make sure you’re cared for in the way you want, by the people you want, if you become incapacitated. By the way, proper estate planning covers much more than just money and personal belongings, but we’ll delve into that in just a bit. Why You Need an Estate Plan Not only do you need a plan for what happens with your finances and personal items after you’re gone or become incapacitated, but you also need an estate plan if any of the following are true: You care about the people in your life who will handle things for you if you cannot. First and foremost, estate planning isn’t something you just do for yourself, it’s truly an investment you make for the people you love. If it feels daunting to you, imagine how they will feel left with a big confusing mess when something happens to you. It’s one of those things that you must get handled before you need it because by the time you need it, it’s too late, and you’ve just left the people you love the most with a big mess. That’s why we say that estate planning is about protecting your family. It’s about protecting their time, energy, and attention, and leaving them with a gift of love. It’s a way of saying “I love you” that goes beyond words, providing them with security and guidance during a difficult time. By making your wishes clear, you can keep them out of court, prevent potential conflicts, and ensure your loved ones are supported exactly as you intend. You want your wishes to be honored. With an estate plan, you have the power to dictate exactly how you want to be cared for if you’re incapacitated, or who makes decisions for you if you cannot. If you wouldn’t want to linger in a hospital bed for years like Terry Schiavo did before her death, you must create a plan. Otherwise, the people you love could get stuck in a court process fighting over your care. You also get to say who inherits your assets, from your home and savings to sentimental items. Planning ensures there isn’t any confusion and guarantees that your possessions end up in the right hands. Planning also makes it clear who should handle things after you’re gone, and it makes it as easy as possible for the people you choose. You want to save money and time (for yourself and your family). Dealing with the court if you become incapacitated or when you die is time-consuming, can be expensive, and is totally public. Without a clear plan in place, you or your family may face costly legal battles and time-consuming administrative hurdles. Your careful planning now can save them from this stress and financial strain, making the process as smooth as possible. In addition, careful planning ensures that you save yourself money by avoiding unnecessary costs if you’re unable to care for yourself. You have minor children. If you have minor children, consider who is home with them when you aren’t. Would that person know what to do if you didn’t make it home? Or would the authorities show up at your house and have to take your children into the care of protective custody/strangers while they figured it out? If the idea of this terrifies you like it does most parents, you need an estate plan. Most parents of minor kids are overwhelmed with the demands of everyday life and don’t stop to think that estate planning applies to them. A common misconception is that planning is only for older folks who know their mortality is staring them in the face, and young parents think that’s too far off to warrant any consideration. That’s a mistake. Death happens to everyone and incapacity can happen before it, no matter how old you are right now. Don’t leave your kids at risk. So now you know you need an estate plan but aren’t sure what to do next. If you feel like the process seems daunting, don’t worry. Taking that first step is easier than you might think. Put Your Tax Refund To Work You might consider using your tax refund to do your estate plan on your own or opt for a cheap online service. While these options can seem cost-effective at first glance, they don’t offer the comprehensive coverage and personalized advice that your unique situation requires. Instead, investing your refund in working with a heart-centered, holistic attorney with a process in place for ensuring that your plan works throughout your lifetime is a much wiser choice. We’ll get to know you, your family dynamics, and your assets, and then help you choose the right plan for you, both now and into the future. Creating a will or a trust isn’t a one-and-done thing you do and then put on a shelf or in a drawer and never look at again. When you do that, your plan is almost guaranteed to fail when the people you love need it. In that case, it’s almost better to do nothing because then at least you have it on your to-do list. False security is one of the greatest risks of estate planning. We’ll help you navigate the law and also help you tailor your estate plan to fit your specific needs, as well as provide peace of mind knowing that your estate plan is thorough and legally sound. Remember, when it comes to safeguarding your family’s future and ensuring your wishes are accurately reflected, the value of expert guidance is well worth the investment. At the very least, your attorney should help you create the relevant documents, including: Creating a Will: A will is a document in which you detail the distribution of your assets and designate guardians for any minor children. It serves as your voice, ensuring your assets are allocated as you desire. Setting Up a Trust: For greater control over the distribution of your assets, a trust is invaluable. It not only allows for precise management of how and when your assets are distributed, but can also offer tax advantages and circumvent the lengthy and public probate process. In addition, and maybe more importantly, a trust will help your loved ones avoid a lengthy, expensive, and totally public court process, which can cost your family significant amounts of time, energy, and attention. Selecting Guardians and Executors: A key component of estate planning is choosing individuals who will execute your wishes and look after your children if you’re unable to do so. These crucial choices help safeguard your family’s future. If you want to go beyond merely choosing people to raise your kids, you need a thorough Kids Protection Plan, which takes into account anything that could happen (i.e., you’re in a car accident and they’re with a babysitter at home). A Kids Protection Plan also ensures your kids are raised by the people you want in the way you want, that someone you’d never want to raise your kids is unable to, and that the right people are able to get emergency care for them if you’re traveling without them. Managing Taxes and Expenses: Effective estate planning can significantly lessen the tax load on your beneficiaries, allowing a larger portion of your assets to benefit them directly instead of going towards tax settlements. These are all undoubtedly important and are what most estate planning attorneys will do for you. However, we’ll go a few steps further, ensuring that investing your tax refund in an estate plan is the very best investment you’ll make all year. We do this by: -Empowering you to choose the right plan that fits your unique family situation, values, and budget (most lawyers will tell you what you need); -Ensuring your assets are inventoried and don’t end up lost (most lawyers won’t tell you that this happens – a lot – to the tune of billions of dollars every year); -Creating a Kids Protection Plan, a comprehensive plan outside of your will for what happens to your kids if something happened to you (most lawyers don’t even think to do this); -Being a trusted advisor for your family, so they have someone to turn to for help when something happens to you (most lawyers don’t ever make contact with your family after you’ve completed your estate plan); -Capturing your memories, stories, values, and family traditions so they’re passed down to the next generations (most lawyers don’t think to do this either); and -A system for updating your plan at least every three years to make sure your plan stays up to date so as your life changes and the law changes, your plan works when you need it to (most lawyers treat their clients as a “one-and-done” transaction, never checking in again and letting your plan go stale). What If I Didn’t Get a Refund This Year? Know these two things: 1) Estate planning is always a wise investment, whether you get a refund or not; and 2) We use a unique process called Life & Legacy Planning, which can help you organize your finances so you’re more likely to get a refund next year, or at least not have a big unexpected tax bill, if that’s what happened this year. We’ll also help you get more financially organized than you’ve ever been before, so that you make the very best decisions about the allocation of your resources for yourself and the people you love. Estate Planning: The Ultimate Expression of Love Among all the ways to use your tax refund, estate planning with us ensures that your love and care for your family endure long after you’re gone. It’s an act of foresight that not only secures your family’s financial future but also leaves a legacy. We’ll work with you to create a complete plan that’s worth more to your loved ones than your tax refund will cover. To learn more about our Life & Legacy Planning process and how we approach estate planning from a place of heart, schedule a complimentary 15-minute call with our office today. This article is a service of Kendra Strong-Tehrani at Strong Law . We don’t just draft documents; we ensure you make informed and empowered decisions about life and death, for yourself and the people you love. That's why we offer a Life & Legacy Planning Session , during which you will get more financially organized than you’ve ever been before and make all the best choices for the people you love. You can begin by calling our office today to schedule a Life & Legacy Planning Session . The content is sourced from Personal Family Lawyer® for use by Personal Family Lawyer® firms, a source believed to be providing accurate information. This material was created for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as ERISA, tax, legal, or investment advice. If you are seeking legal advice specific to your needs, such advice services must be obtained on your own separate from this educational material. Proper estate planning can keep your family out of conflict, out of court, and out of the public eye. If you’re ready to create a comprehensive estate plan, contact us to schedule your Life & Legacy Planning Session . Even if you already have a plan in place, we will review it and help you bring it up to date to avoid heartache for your family. Schedule online today .

In an era where digital innovation shapes every aspect of our lives, it's no surprise that our teenagers are drawn to the allure of cryptocurrency. This digital form of money represents a shift away from traditional financial systems. If you're the parent of teens, understanding cryptocurrency is crucial so you can provide them with the guidance they need to navigate this new world safely and wisely. I’m here to help you learn what you need to know. What is Cryptocurrency, Exactly? Cryptocurrency, which folks also call “crypto” is, in essence, virtual money that can be used to buy goods and services. It can also be traded for profit, much like stocks. However, unlike the dollars in your wallet, crypto exists only in the digital world. The crypto universe is vast, with thousands of digital currencies out there. Crypto is based on blockchain technology, which ensures transactions are secure, transparent, and decentralized, so they're not controlled by any government or financial institution (there are pros and cons to this that we’ll describe below). Imagine blockchain as a digital Lego tower where each block represents a piece of information, and once a block is added to the tower, it can't be removed or altered, making it a super secure way to keep track of cryptocurrency transactions - kind of like a high-tech, unbreakable diary. A critical component of understanding cryptocurrency is the concept of a crypto wallet. Unlike a physical wallet, a crypto wallet doesn't store currency; instead, it holds secure digital keys that allow access to cryptocurrencies. What Parents of Teens Need to Know To the younger, digital-native generation, cryptocurrency is an exciting and innovative concept. They’re not afraid of technology and investing online. They’re aware of the potentially significant returns on investments, stories of cryptocurrency millionaires, and the prospect of being part of a cutting-edge financial movement. This is why crypto is very attractive to teens. Parents should know that while there are no laws specifically prohibiting teens from owning or trading cryptocurrency, most platforms and exchanges require users to be 18 years old. For eager and younger investors, custodial accounts present a solution. These accounts allow parents to oversee their teen's investments, providing a controlled environment where teens can learn about digital currencies. These accounts not only allow parents to monitor their teen's investment activities but also offer a hands-on educational experience in managing and understanding digital currencies. It's a balanced approach that combines the practical aspects of investing with the security of parental oversight. If you're a business owner, you may want to consider paying your kids and then putting up to $7,000 of what you pay them into a Roth IRA using cryptocurrency and a self-directed IRA structure. By doing this, you can invest that $7,000 in cryptocurrency, and let it ride for the next 50 years. Imagine what it will be worth to them then, and it will grow 100% tax-free. For more information about custodial accounts and self-directed IRAs invested in cryptocurrency, schedule a call with us. Be Aware of the Risks While learning how to invest in crypto can be a great learning activity for you and your teen, be aware of the risks involved. For one, the crypto market is highly volatile. Prices can surge or plummet within a short period, making investments speculative and risky. It's crucial to have open discussions with your teen about the importance of not investing more than they can afford to lose, and about the reality of the speculative nature of digital currency. Teach your teen the importance of research, diversification, and long-term thinking and you’ll help instill responsible investment habits that will last a lifetime (and make you proud!). Most importantly, ensure you know how to get into their cryptocurrency accounts in case something happens and that someone knows how to get into your accounts as well. The biggest risk to your cryptocurrency investments is that you haven’t documented them such that someone could access your accounts when something happens to you. Contact us and let us help! Alternatives and Best Practices For families that find direct investment in cryptocurrency too daunting, there are alternative ways to engage with the digital economy. Encouraging your teen to learn about blockchain technology or exploring investments in crypto-related stocks and ETFs can provide a safer introduction to the concepts without the direct risks associated with cryptocurrency trading. However, if you’re ready to make a go at it, here are some best practices to keep in mind: Foster a Culture of Learning. The rapid evolution of digital currencies makes continuous learning essential. Encourage your teen (and take the opportunity yourself) to stay informed about the latest developments by reading reputable news sources, listening to podcasts, and even speaking with a financial advisor. Establish Guidelines. Before your teen makes any financial investment, it's important to establish clear guidelines. Discuss together how much time and money is reasonable to invest, the importance of privacy and security in digital transactions, and the expectations for responsible behavior. Setting these ground rules early on can lay a strong foundation for healthy financial habits. Embrace the Future. Regardless of whether your teen decides to invest in cryptocurrency, understanding this new facet of the financial world is invaluable for you. The rise of digital currencies offers a unique opportunity for parents and teens to learn together about the future of money, technology, and personal finance. It's a chance to explore new concepts, discuss values and responsibilities, and prepare for a future where digital currencies may play a significant role. Prepare Yourself and Your Teen With Our Guidance Whatever the future holds, we believe it’s important to educate your children about finances so you leave a legacy of fiscal responsibility when you’re gone. That’s why we help ensure that when you’re no longer here, your assets - including cryptocurrency - are passed on the way you want, easily, and without your family ending up in court and conflict. We do that by approaching estate planning as a relationship - a lifetime relationship with you as your and your family’s trusted advisor so you have someone to turn to in times of change and uncertainty, and in times of joy and excitement. To learn more about how we can guide you and your family to secure the future you want, schedule a complimentary 15-minute call with our office. This article is a service of Kendra Strong-Tehrani at Strong Law . We don’t just draft documents; we ensure you make informed and empowered decisions about life and death, for yourself and the people you love. That's why we offer a Life & Legacy Planning Session , during which you will get more financially organized than you’ve ever been before and make all the best choices for the people you love. You can begin by calling our office today to schedule a Life & Legacy Planning Session . The content is sourced from Personal Family Lawyer® for use by Personal Family Lawyer® firms, a source believed to be providing accurate information. This material was created for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as ERISA, tax, legal, or investment advice. If you are seeking legal advice specific to your needs, such advice services must be obtained on your own separate from this educational material. Proper estate planning can keep your family out of conflict, out of court, and out of the public eye. If you’re ready to create a comprehensive estate plan, contact us to schedule your Life & Legacy Planning Session . Even if you already have a plan in place, we will review it and help you bring it up to date to avoid heartache for your family. Schedule online today .

If you’ve been traveling around the sun for a while, you’ve no doubt heard of a will, a document that says what happens to your money and belongings after you die. You may even have a will, or know you should get one. Maybe you’ve heard of a trust and wondered what it is and how it works. You may have even done research on Google about how to do your own will or trust. In fact, it’s hard to poke around the internet and not find do-it-yourself (DIY) wills and trusts services. Legal Zoom, TrustandWill.com, and even media personalities Dave Ramsey and Suze Orman offer cheap DIY documents. You can even create your own will or trust for free by downloading a few forms. What these websites won’t do, however, is explain the potential consequences that can happen if you use one of their services. Legal Documents Have Legal Consequences The truth is that trusts and wills, and other documents that all adults should have in place, like a health care directive and power of attorney, are legal documents with legal consequences. They contain lots of legal language. Even if you think you understand the words, you likely don’t fully understand the nuances in the terminology. There’s a reason lawyers have to complete college, graduate from law school, then pass a bar exam before they can practice. It takes time and effort to learn the law, the legal terminology, the application of the law, and the potential consequences if something goes wrong. Even then, many lawyers who don’t specialize in estate planning, or wills and trusts, put in place legal documents that fail when you become incapacitated or die, for various reasons. Yet you may be getting sold on the idea that you can draft legal documents online on your own. The promise is that you can save money and completely protect yourself and your loved ones from expensive legal consequences of not having planning in place. Since it’s early April when this article is being published, we call “April Fools” on these services. A Real Life Cautionary Tale Let’s keep you from being fooled by illustrating what can happen when you draft legal documents on your own without understanding the consequences. What follows is a true story. A woman passed away and her husband came into his lawyer’s office to get legal advice on what to do next. The woman (we’ll call her “Jane”) received an inheritance from her first husband (let’s call him “John”). She was also close to her adult children and her grandchildren, and wanted to make sure they received what was left of her inheritance from their father. While she intended to leave her second husband some money, she made it very clear to her family that she wanted to provide for her children and grandchildren. Jane was frugal. She didn’t want to spend money on an attorney. So she did some research on Google about wills and trusts, downloaded some forms, and wrote out her own documents. She learned from Google that a trust can keep her family from going through a court process called probate, which would save them money and leave more for them to inherit. So she drafted her own trust thinking that she’d achieve her goals and save money at the same time. You may already see where this is going… When John’s lawyer read Jane’s DIY trust, they realized that what Jane actually did was leave her entire inheritance to her second husband. Jane legally disinherited her children and grandchildren. Jane’s DIY trust was also subject to laws of a different U.S. state than the one she lived in, meaning that any legal process related to the trust would be more complicated than it needed to be. Surely this was not the result Jane wanted. Jane not only disinherited her children, but she failed to transfer her house to the trust, despite drafting and filing a deed on her own, and she left assets out of her trust altogether. So while she thought she was doing the right thing, what she really did was leave her loved ones with a giant, expensive mess. Not surprisingly, the family ended up in court and years later, the matter still isn’t resolved. You Don’t Have to Make the Same Mistakes Jane must have believed what she heard from well-meaning folks like Dave and Suze about doing a will and trust on her own. She probably thought she understood the legal documents she drafted and signed. She most definitely thought she was making things easy for her family and that she was giving her children money from their father. But Jane was fooled. Don’t be Jane. If Jane had worked with us, she would’ve created a plan that would accomplish her goals and keep her family out of court and out of conflict. She would’ve saved her family years of heartache and pain, not to mention the expense. Jane’s story teaches us that it’s absolutely worth it to work with a lawyer whenever you’re dealing with a legal document – including a will or trust. Don’t “trust” those who say you can do it cheaply or do it yourself. Don’t be Jane. What to Do Instead You owe it to your loved ones to take the time and put in the investment to do your estate planning right, and keep it up over time. In fact, it’s the last and greatest gift you can leave them. Having your affairs buttoned up so they don’t have a mess on their hands and are allowed to process their grief in peace is your final act of love. If you want to leave your family the gift of your love, we can help. At our firm, we don’t merely dispense legal counsel or draft documents; we safeguard your family. We look at your specific family dynamics and your goals and then work with you to create a plan that ensures you and your loved ones avoid the stress, conflict, and chaos that comes from DIY documents. To learn more about how we approach estate planning from a place of heart so you can leave your family with love, schedule a complimentary 15-minute call with our office. This article is a service of Kendra Strong-Tehrani at Strong Law . We don’t just draft documents; we ensure you make informed and empowered decisions about life and death, for yourself and the people you love. That's why we offer a Life & Legacy Planning Session , during which you will get more financially organized than you’ve ever been before and make all the best choices for the people you love. You can begin by calling our office today to schedule a Life & Legacy Planning Session . The content is sourced from Personal Family Lawyer® for use by Personal Family Lawyer® firms, a source believed to be providing accurate information. This material was created for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as ERISA, tax, legal, or investment advice. If you are seeking legal advice specific to your needs, such advice services must be obtained on your own separate from this educational material. Proper estate planning can keep your family out of conflict, out of court, and out of the public eye. If you’re ready to create a comprehensive estate plan, contact us to schedule your Life & Legacy Planning Session . Even if you already have a plan in place, we will review it and help you bring it up to date to avoid heartache for your family. Schedule online today .

Anyone who’s seen an episode of “Modern Family” knows that families these days come in many different shapes and sizes. Long gone are the days when a “family” was defined as a mother, father, and two children. In this article, we’ll focus on one of the types of families that’s common in our modern culture: the blended family. The Unique Dynamics At Play in Blended Families A “blended family” comes into being when parents divorce and at least one remarries. While everyone may get along effortlessly while the parent is alive, that too often doesn’t happen once the parent dies. Why? Because the law still hasn’t caught up to our modern definition of “family.” The law often favors the spouse, which works well when the spouse and the deceased have children together. But when the deceased parent has children from another marriage, the children can - indeed, often are - cut out of their inheritance. Other than the law being slow to catch up, there are a few more reasons why this happens: ● The parent trusts the new spouse completely and can’t comprehend the spouse ever doing anything to harm the children; ● The new spouse may place his or her own interest ahead of the children - or have children from a first marriage and want them to benefit instead; or ● The parent hasn't been educated about what could happen when he or she dies and hasn’t consulted with a competent attorney to get educated. A True (and Common) Story That Became a Nightmare In a recent marketwatch.com article, a woman wrote about her own nightmare scenario. Her father (we’ll call him “Dad”) owned several properties, including the house she lived in as a child. He remarried, and when his health started to decline, her stepmother (we’ll call her “Stepmom”) made financial moves so he could qualify for government health care benefits under the Medicaid program. Whereas Medicaid is a needs-based program (meaning you only qualify if you can’t afford to pay), many people with means are able to take advantage of legal maneuvers and set their assets aside so they qualify. Doing this keeps assets protected for the next generation(s). So far, so good. It seems as if Stepmom has the children’s interests at heart, right? Not so fast. In order to qualify for Medicaid, Dad had to transfer his assets to someone else while he was alive. That “someone else” was Stepmom. Apparently, she convinced Dad it was the right move and that she could be trusted with his properties. Dad eventually died, and so at the time of his death, Stepmom owned all his properties, including the childhood home. Stepmom went on a selling spree, cashing in on them all. Guess where the money went? If you guessed Stepmom and HER daughter, you’d be right. Dad’s children from his first marriage got nothing. Wait - Surely That’s Not Legal! You may be thinking that’s a horribly unfair outcome - so bad that it has to be illegal. But it’s not. It’s completely legal. Once Stepmom owned the properties, she was free to do anything she wanted with them. She chose - deliberately – to give her stepchildren none of the proceeds and under the law, she had the absolute right to do this. The children had no recourse. They’d lose in court every day of the week. So we’re left to wonder: is this the outcome Dad wanted? Could he have foreseen Stepmom was capable of cutting out his children? Did he know there was another way he could have protected them and still qualified for government benefits? With education from a trusted lawyer, would he have done anything differently? How to Ensure Your Children Are Spared From the Potential Consequences If you want to avoid the same tragic consequences, there are some steps you can take right away: 1. Don’t Be Afraid of the Inevitable : Benjamin Franklin is quoted as saying, “Nothing is certain but death and taxes,” and he was half right (you can avoid taxes with careful estate planning but that’s a topic for another article). Death is certain. Yet we’re all uncomfortable talking about death, much less planning for it. Accept death as a reality then make plans while you can. 2. Hold a Family Meeting : Having a heart-to-heart about your wishes, values, and goals can go a long way in preventing misunderstandings after you pass away. 3. Educate Yourself : Hands down the single most important thing you can do is educate yourself and educate yourself now. Don’t rely on the internet. Laws are different from state to state, families are different, assets are handled in different ways, and the internet won’t take all this into account. 4. Work With a Lawyer Who Understands Your Family Dynamics : One size doesn't fit all when it comes to planning for life and death matters like these! What works for one family might not work for yours. You need a tailored plan to fit your unique needs. You deserve, and your family deserves, to have a plan that works when your family needs it. That’s why you need a trusted, heart-centered attorney who will appreciate your unique situation and educate you so you’re empowered to put the right plan in place. Your family’s future literally depends on it. Your loved ones don’t have to face tragic circumstances when you pass. With honest conversations, proper education, and guidance from a trusted attorney, you can put together a plan that keeps the peace and makes sure your loved ones are taken care of just the way you want. To learn more about how we approach estate planning from the heart and yet with all the strategies you need to keep your assets in the family, schedule a complimentary 15-minute call with our office. This article is a service of Kendra Strong-Tehrani at Strong Law . We don’t just draft documents; we ensure you make informed and empowered decisions about life and death, for yourself and the people you love. That's why we offer a Life & Legacy Planning Session , during which you will get more financially organized than you’ve ever been before and make all the best choices for the people you love. You can begin by calling our office today to schedule a Life & Legacy Planning Session . The content is sourced from Personal Family Lawyer® for use by Personal Family Lawyer® firms, a source believed to be providing accurate information. This material was created for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as ERISA, tax, legal, or investment advice. If you are seeking legal advice specific to your needs, such advice services must be obtained on your own separate from this educational material. Proper estate planning can keep your family out of conflict, out of court, and out of the public eye. If you’re ready to create a comprehensive estate plan, contact us to schedule your Life & Legacy Planning Session . Even if you already have a plan in place, we will review it and help you bring it up to date to avoid heartache for your family. Schedule online today .

After the excitement of Valentine's Day fades away and the last indulgence of chocolate is savored, it's crucial to turn our attention to a topic that may not be as thrilling as the idea of everlasting love: the reality that all relationships come to an end one day. Before you stop reading, hear me out. Whether it’s a breakup, divorce, or the death of a loved one after a lifetime together, every relationship eventually will come to an end. The most important thing is how you've planned for that ending, or whether you haven’t at all, as your planning (or lack of it) will have a real impact on you, your partner, your children, and your assets. The silver lining? While we can't prevent the end, we can prepare for it with a blend of compassion and strategic planning that makes the end the best possible foundation for a new beginning. Understanding the Intersection of Love and Law Love is wonderful—joyful moments, shared dreams for the future, and yes, some legal considerations too. For married couples, the law has default provisions in place for what happens to your assets if one of you dies, but those default plans may not align with your personal preferences or the life you’ve built with your partner. If you’re an unmarried couple, the absence of a plan could leave you vulnerable, risking the loss of assets or the inability to make crucial decisions about your property or your medical choices. To better understand how a lack of planning can leave you and your partner out in the rain, let’s look closer at these important areas that are affected when a relationship ends. 1 | Property Ownership Let's say you and your partner purchase a home and other assets together. Without clear documentation outlining ownership rights, a dispute can arise if the relationship ends in a breakup. But breakups aren’t the only danger. If you aren’t married and one of you passes away, the other partner might find themselves without a rightful claim to the property, potentially facing homelessness or a significant financial loss. If you own any property with anyone else or if you want to ensure your property lands in the hands you choose in the event of your death, contact us to plan for that property now. 2 | Healthcare Decisions In the unfortunate event of a medical emergency where one partner becomes incapacitated, lacking appropriate legal documentation could impede the other partner's ability to make critical healthcare decisions on their behalf. This can lead to delays in medical treatment or disagreements among family members over the person’s treatment, causing unnecessary stress and complications during an already challenging time. 3 | Guardianship for Children For couples with children, failing to establish guardianship arrangements in the event of both parents' incapacity or death can have devastating consequences. Without a designated guardian, children may be placed in the care of individuals who may not align with your wishes or values, leading to potential custody battles and emotional upheaval for the children and your extended family. If you and your partner end your relationship without coming to a mutual agreement on a guardian for your children, things could get even more chaotic - especially if one of you has documented your desired guardian and the other partner hasn’t. Worst of all, typical wills don’t cover planning for the needs of minor children sufficiently. It’s why we offer the Kids Protection Plan, specifically designed to ensure your children are never raised by anyone other than people you know, love, and trust, and are never taken from your home and into the care of strangers. 4 | Business Interests If you and your partner share business interests or investments, the lack of a solid plan could jeopardize the future of these assets. Without clear instructions, the surviving partner may face challenges in managing or transferring ownership of these assets, potentially leading to financial instability or the dissolution of the business. Be Proactive, No Matter What the Future Holds In each of the scenarios above, the absence of proactive estate planning measures leaves individuals vulnerable to legal and financial uncertainties. By taking proactive steps that consider what will happen when your relationship ends, couples can safeguard their assets, ensure their wishes are honored, and provide peace of mind for themselves and their loved ones. Not sure how to start the conversation with your partner? Start by explaining to your partner your desire to safeguard the life you’re building together. Just as relationships evolve over time, your wishes and how they're documented should too. Continuously engaging in dialogue and revisiting your plans ensures they remain aligned with your evolving needs and aspirations. Let Us Make It Easy to Plan Ahead Whether you’ve already started the conversation with your partner or need more guidance, planning for the future of your relationship can feel overwhelming. We can help. At our firm, we don't merely dispense legal counsel; we safeguard your love story. We comprehend the profound significance of your relationship and are dedicated to ensuring its protection. Whenever (and however) your relationship ends, we’ll work with you to create a plan that considers these contingencies ahead of time so you and your loved ones can avoid the stress, conflict, and chaos that comes with incomplete planning. To learn more about how we approach estate planning from a place of heart, schedule a complimentary 15-minute call with our office. This article is a service of Kendra Strong-Tehrani at Strong Law . We don’t just draft documents; we ensure you make informed and empowered decisions about life and death, for yourself and the people you love. That's why we offer a Life & Legacy Planning Session , during which you will get more financially organized than you’ve ever been before and make all the best choices for the people you love. You can begin by calling our office today to schedule a Life & Legacy Planning Session . The content is sourced from Personal Family Lawyer® for use by Personal Family Lawyer® firms, a source believed to be providing accurate information. This material was created for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as ERISA, tax, legal, or investment advice. If you are seeking legal advice specific to your needs, such advice services must be obtained on your own separate from this educational material. Proper estate planning can keep your family out of conflict, out of court, and out of the public eye. If you’re ready to create a comprehensive estate plan, contact us to schedule your Life & Legacy Planning Session . Even if you already have a plan in place, we will review it and help you bring it up to date to avoid heartache for your family. Schedule online today .

Today we're diving into a topic that's absolutely crucial: estate planning for your parents. As they gracefully navigate their golden years, ensuring their peace of mind (and yours!) becomes a top priority. Whether they raised you the way you want, or showed you how you want to do it differently, as your parents age, one of the very best things you can do for your own best future, and that of your entire future lineage - your children, grandchildren, and beyond - is to take great care of the people you were born to or raised by. The questions you need to start asking now are: How will you help them if they become ill or injured? Who will take care of their bills and make sure their health needs are met? How do they want to be cared for, if and when they cannot care for themselves? The starting place is open conversation and a power trio of estate planning tools: the general power of attorney, the power of attorney for healthcare (including a living will), and the HIPAA waiver. Let's break down why these tools are the unsung heroes of comprehensive estate planning for your parents, and how to bring them up so you can support your parents to get them created or updated, no matter how much or how little money they have in the bank. 1. General Power of Attorney (POA) A general power of attorney (or POA) grants a person you name (often a family member or trusted friend) the authority to manage your financial affairs if you become unable to do so yourself. From handling bills to making investment decisions, the general POA ensures that your financial matters are handled, whether you’re experiencing a temporary illness or a long-term inability to manage your money, such as in the case of memory problems. If your parents have assets that you must be able to access easily in the event of their incapacity, you may decide that a POA for accessing their accounts isn't sufficient, as it can be difficult to get access to bank accounts even with a POA in place and will require court action. In that case, the best course of action is to ensure that their assets are titled in the name of a trust, with you or someone you trust as the named successor trustee, who can step in and handle financial matters for your parents, without any court involvement, when needed. 2. Power of Attorney for Healthcare and Living Will It’s possible your parents already lean on you for guidance with their healthcare decisions, and it’s equally possible they don’t share details of their healthcare with you at all. No matter which side of the spectrum your parents stand on, the question of what will happen to their healthcare needs if they become seriously ill can feel overwhelming — and trust me, it’s even more overwhelming during moments of medical crisis. Thankfully, a power of attorney for healthcare and living will allow your parents to explain their medical wishes to guide medical providers and family members on what treatments and life-saving measures they’d like to have, even in the toughest of times. The power of attorney for healthcare designates someone to make these medical decisions on behalf of your parents if they're unable to do so. This trusted individual becomes the advocate, ensuring that healthcare choices align with your parents' values and preferences. Meanwhile, the living will – also known as a declaration to physicians – outlines your parents' wishes regarding life-sustaining treatments in the event they're unable to communicate. From CPR to artificial hydration, this document provides clarity amidst uncertainty, giving both your parents and their loved ones peace of mind that the decisions being made around their care are what they themselves would want. 3. HIPAA Waiver In the digital age, privacy is paramount – but what happens when privacy becomes a barrier to essential healthcare-related communication? Enter the HIPAA waiver, the ultimate tool for opening communication roadblocks in times of need. HIPAA (the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) protects the privacy of individuals' medical records. While this is crucial for safeguarding sensitive medical information, it can sometimes hinder the flow of communication between healthcare providers and family members, especially for the elderly and those incapacitated by an illness or injury. By signing a HIPAA waiver, your parents authorize specific individuals to access their medical information and speak directly to their medical providers, ensuring seamless communication and informed decision-making. This is essential in medical emergencies but is also extremely helpful if your parents need help hearing their doctor or understanding their medical advice. How to Bring Up Estate Planning With Your Parents The best way to bring up estate planning with your parents is to get your own planning handled first. Then let your parents know that in the process of handling your own planning, your lawyer raised the question of whether you were an agent under anyone else’s power of attorney, or named as a successor trustee in your parents' trust, or if you're going to be caring for aging parents at some point. If you've worked with a lawyer and they didn’t ask you those questions, give us a call and let’s review your plan and your parents’ planning to make sure that everything you’ll need is dialed in. This can all get quite messy very quickly, and now is the time to talk with your parents. Why the Urgency? You might be thinking, "Why the rush? Can't we tackle this later?" Here's the scoop: Life is unpredictable, and procrastination can be a costly gamble. Waiting until a crisis strikes to get these tools in place can lead to a whirlwind of legal and emotional chaos, leaving your parents' wishes unfulfilled and their affairs in disarray. By proactively planning ahead, you're not just checking items off a to-do list – you're investing in your parents' peace of mind and yours. Don't wait for a storm to hit – schedule a 15-minute call today to learn how our unique Life & Legacy Planning process is designed with your family's well-being in mind, offering personalized guidance and support every step of the way. This article is a service of Kendra Strong-Tehrani at Strong Law . We don’t just draft documents; we ensure you make informed and empowered decisions about life and death, for yourself and the people you love. That's why we offer a Life & Legacy Planning Session , during which you will get more financially organized than you’ve ever been before and make all the best choices for the people you love. You can begin by calling our office today to schedule a Life & Legacy Planning Session . The content is sourced from Personal Family Lawyer® for use by Personal Family Lawyer® firms, a source believed to be providing accurate information. This material was created for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as ERISA, tax, legal, or investment advice. If you are seeking legal advice specific to your needs, such advice services must be obtained on your own separate from this educational material. Proper estate planning can keep your family out of conflict, out of court, and out of the public eye. If you’re ready to create a comprehensive estate plan, contact us to schedule your Life & Legacy Planning Session . Even if you already have a plan in place, we will review it and help you bring it up to date to avoid heartache for your family. Schedule online today .