Estate plans should be reviewed and updated after major life events such as marriage, divorce, the birth of a child, significant financial … [Read more...] about How often should we update our estate plan?

Yes. Assets such as retirement accounts, life insurance policies, and payable-on-death (POD) accounts pass outside your Will or trust. It is … [Read more...] about Do we need to coordinate beneficiary designations with our estate plan?

Blended families require careful planning within your comprehensive estate plan. Tools such as a bypass trust, marital trust, or Qualified … [Read more...] about How can I make sure my children from a previous marriage are protected?

Your spouse may be allowed to make some medical decisions in an emergency, but to ensure that your wishes are followed and your spouse has … [Read more...] about Can my spouse make medical decisions for me without legal documents?

Not all couples need a trust, but a Revocable Living Trust can be a valuable tool, especially if you want to avoid probate, maintain … [Read more...] about Do we need a trust if we are married?

At an average cost of over $100,000 per year in North Carolina, long-term care can be financially devastating without proper planning. … [Read more...] about How can we protect each other if one of us needs long-term care?

If a spouse becomes incapacitated and there is no valid Durable Power of Attorney in place, the other spouse may not be able to legally … [Read more...] about What happens if one of us becomes incapacitated and we do not have a Power of Attorney?

Although every estate plan should be uniquely tailored to the needs and goals of the person creating the plan, an estate plan for someone … [Read more...] about What documents should married couples include in an estate plan?

Not necessarily. While some assets may pass directly to a surviving spouse, such as jointly owned property or accounts with designated … [Read more...] about If I am married, will everything automatically go to my spouse when I die?