Do You Really Need a Lawyer to Draft a Will… The Truth Behind DIY Wills
Chances are, you are reading this article because you want to know whether you really need to hire a lawyer to draft your will. And to be honest, I bet you already know that answer to that question, or else you wouldn’t be reading through an estate planning lawyer’s website. Listen, if you are hell-bent […]
Create an Estate Plan in North Carolina in 14 Simple Steps
Would you like to create an estate plan so that your family and children are protected in the event you have to walk out on life or are otherwise unable to care for them? Here is a quick and easy checklist of all the things you will need to consider to create and estate plan. […]
Using a Standalone Retirement Trust to Create a Retirement Plan for Your Kids
Some lawyers feel that trusts are unnecessary for most people. But some lawyers also don’t know what a standalone retirement trust is. Trusts can be an invaluable planning tool, and here is another example of how they can be used. What is a Standalone Retirement Trust and Why are they So Important? A standalone retirement trust […]
How a Spare Tire Is Like Your Estate Plan
Yesterday was the first Monday of 2017, and while many people were home watching football, I was one of the few people in my office building working. But apparently that was a bad decision because when I left the office last night, I found a flat tire waiting for me when I got to my […]
What is a Trust and Why Do I need one for Estate Planning?
One of the most common questions I get from people during their initial meeting in my office is “what is a trust and why do I need one ?” It’s a question I get asked over and over, in part because a trust is one of the foundational elements of a comprehensive estate plan. So […]
What Happens If You Die Without a Will?
Understanding what would happen if you die without a will in North Carolina, or any state for that matter, is something that everyone should understand, but many people don’t. What I want to do here today is explain exactly what happens in North Carolina if you die without a will in place, and then underscore […]
Life Insurance and Estate Planning… Like Peanut Butter and Jelly
Life Insurance and Estate Planning go together perfectly. You really can’t (or shouldn’t) have one without the other. Just like peanut butter and jelly… and I love me a good PB&J… yum. But until about 6 years ago, I had never given life insurance (or estate planning) much thought. My Wife’s Grandfather was a career […]
Choosing a Guardian for Your Children… What You Need to Know
Many parents I first talk to don’t know the first thing about choosing a guardian for their kids. And frankly, why would you? We all believe that we are going to live forever and our kids would never need to have a guardian appointed to take care of them. But this is one of the […]