Don’t Take This Risk

Estate Planning, Wills

Every adult should have a Will, especially upon becoming a parent. If you have children that are not of adult age, a Will is that much more important. It is the document that allows you to name who you choose to serve as guardian should you pass away first. Some...

Do I Need a Will or a Trust?

Estate Planning, Trust, Wills

Most people understand the basic purpose of a Will. It is the document that describes who will receive their assets when they die. A Will may be sufficient to address the wishes of many people. However, in many cases, a Will may not be sufficient to address specific...

Will You Have Options After a Crisis Hits?

Estate Planning, Wills

I recall meeting with a heartbroken couple facing an aggressive, terminal diagnosis for one of them. There was little time left. From that meeting, I headed to a health care facility to review estate documents with a man recovering from a serious health condition. He...

The Lesson Behind Estate Planning We Must Not Forget

Estate Planning, Trust, Wills

I write these columns primarily to encourage people to prepare their estate plan before it is too late. Without preparation, many families must deal with terribly difficult situations that could have been avoided. Proper planning means more than simply listing what...

Are you Prepared to Step In?

Estate Planning, Trust, Wills

I recall an article published in the Wall Street Journal® titled “The Difficult, Delicate Untangling of Our Parents’ Lives.” The author and his wife were in their 50s and dealing with the challenges of parents too incapacitated to handle their own affairs....

Divorce and Your (or Your Child’s) Estate Plan

Deeds, Real Estate, Wills

 Last article I addressed what would happen if your Will leaves everything to your spouse, but you later divorce and do not change the Will. Idaho law prohibits an ex-spouse from receiving assets just because he or she was named in a Will created prior to the divorce....