Creating a Trust in Your Will vs. Creating a Living Trust: Part 2
October 1, 2024
Last week, we covered how it works when you create a trust through your will. This week, I'll show you ho...
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There is no shortage of advice flying around about estate planning, much of it from people who aren't even lawyers. Get insight on the popular pitfalls and how emerging economic shifts like cryptocurrency can affect your plan.
Creating a Trust in Your Will vs. Creating a Living Trust: Part 2
Last week, we covered how it works when you create a trust through your will. This week, I'll show you ho...
Creating a Trust in Your Will vs. Creating a Living Trust: Part 1
You've probably heard that trusts help families avoid probate court and protect assets for the people you...
Why Quick and Simple Estate Plan Reviews Don't Exist
When someone calls an estate planning attorney asking for a "quick look" at their documents, the request ...
Understanding Inheritance Taxes: What You and Your Beneficiaries Need to Know
When planning for your death, there’s one issue you may not have thought about but is so important to you...
The Lady Bird Deed: 5 Risks to Consider Beyond Medicaid Protection
You own your home. Maybe it's your most significant asset. Perhaps you’ve heard about Lady Bird Deeds and...
Protecting Your Legacy: Why Life & Legacy Planning Matters for Black Families
February is Black History Month - a time to honor the resilience, achievements, and contributions of Blac...
What Happens to Your Debt When You Die?
It's a question I hear often: if I die with debt, will my family be stuck paying it off? The short answer...
Where Will You Live and How Will You Get and Pay For Care As You Age: A Legal and Practical Guide
If you're planning for your own future or helping aging parents, understanding options for living and lon...
Why So Much Money Ends Up as Unclaimed Property and What That Means for You
Every February 1, states across America observe National Unclaimed Property Day, a date specifically chos...
Frozen Accounts, Court Delays, and Grief: What Happens in the Probate Process
Your mom told you not to worry; she had everything handled. You were her power of attorney, helping her p...
What Happens to All Your Stuff When You Die? (And Why Your Family Is Dreading It)
You open the door to your parents' home for the first time since the funeral. Closets stuffed with decade...
Wills vs. Trusts: How to Choose the Right Tool to Protect the People You Love
When you begin thinking about estate planning, one of the first questions you might ask is whether you ne...
Why Your Family Needs a Mission Statement
You probably know you “should” have a will or a trust, but have you ever talked with your family about wh...
Got Retirement Savings? Must Read…
The SECURE Act 2.0 brought some of the biggest changes to retirement planning in decades. While most peop...
Accidental Death at 39: Here’s What You Need to Know
Michael Duarte had everything to live for. At 39, the popular food influencer was building his brand, sha...
Caring for Aging Parents: How to Protect Relationships and Plan Ahead | PFL®
When adult siblings come together to care for aging parents, something unexpected often happens. Instead ...
The White Elephant Gift Nobody Wants: Family Conflict | PFL®
We've all been there. The holiday White Elephant gift exchange starts out fun and lighthearted. But then ...
How to Talk to Your Loved Ones About Death, Money, and Estate Planning at the Holidays | PFL®
As the holidays approach, families gather to share food, laughter, and stories. But amid the joy, there i...
What to Do When You’re Ready to Create Your Estate Plan but Your Spouse Isn’t | PFL®
When you’re ready to finally put an estate plan in place, it’s natural to feel excited and relieved. You’...
Honoring Your Sacrifice: Estate Planning Essentials for Military Families
Each year on November 11, the nation pauses to honor the courage and sacrifice of those who’ve served in ...
How to Keep Wealth in Your Family for Generations | PFL®
Many families focus on building wealth, but fewer think about keeping it. Research shows that a majority ...
Estate Planning for Unmarried Couples: Protecting the Life You’ve Built Together
You’ve built a life with someone you love - sharing a home, experiences, and maybe even finances - but wi...
Estate Planning Awareness Week: Why Planning Is the Greatest Gift You Can Give Your Loved Ones
October 20–26, 2025, is Estate Planning Awareness Week - a national observance created to encourage Ameri...
How to Cope with Stigma and Judgment as a Parent of a Child With Special Needs
You're at the grocery store when it happens. Your child has a meltdown in the cereal aisle. You see the s...
Why It Matters to Your Loved Ones That You Work With the Right Lawyer
When someone you love dies, grief hits hard enough. But imagine adding legal chaos, confusing paperwork, ...
Why You Don’t Want an Initial Consultation, But a Life & Legacy Planning® Session Instead
A typical initial consultation with an estate planning lawyer may look like this: you meet, you answer qu...
The Hidden Risks of Growing Older Without a Life & Legacy Plan
If you are like most people, you probably assume that when the time comes, someone—your spouse, your chil...
LGBTQIA+ History Month: Honoring the Past, Protecting the Future
October is LGBTQIA+ History Month - a time to reflect on the struggles, resilience, and triumphs of those...
Supporting the Whole Family: How to Balance the Needs of Siblings of a Child With Special Needs
Parenting a child with special needs is an extraordinary journey. It brings moments of joy, pride, and de...
Living With Loss: The Daily Impact of Grief and the Gift of Planning Ahead
Losing someone you love reshapes your world in ways you may never expect. Some changes are obvious—you no...
The Surprising Connection Between Meal Planning and Estate Planning Done the Right Way
My colleague told me a story recently. Her son moved into his first apartment at college and had to go gr...
Don’t Lose Your Family Stories: How to Preserve Your Legacy Before It’s Too Late
A client once told me she would give anything to hear her grandmother’s voice again. Her grandmother had ...
How to Make Networking Nourishing, Fun, and Effective
Most entrepreneurs have a love-hate relationship with networking. You know you need it to grow your busin...
The $1.5 Million Estate Planning Mistake You Can't Afford to Make
Picture this: You and your spouse spend decades building a successful business, accumulating assets, and ...
IEP and 504 Plans Aren’t Enough: Why Your Child with Special Needs Deserves a Life & Legacy Plan
If your child has an IEP or 504 Plan, you've already taken an important step to support their education. ...
The Cost of a Cheap Plan: Why “Bargain” Estate Planning Often Costs the Most
I had an interesting conversation with a potential client last week. After explaining our Life & Lega...
When Every Dollar Counts: How Labor Day Reminds Us That Life & Legacy Planning Is More Essential Than Ever
Labor Day has always been about honoring the American worker—the people who build our communities, power ...
When Fame Can't Fix Family: What Hulk Hogan's Estate Teaches Us About Failed Planning
When wrestling legend Hulk Hogan died at age 71, the world lost an icon. But behind the headlines about h...
Beyond Back-to-School Prep: Why Parents of Children with Special Needs Must Prioritize Self-Care | PFL ®
The back-to-school commercials are everywhere, showing excited children picking out new backpacks and par...
Why Estate Documents Fail: The Hidden Truth About Traditional Estate Planning | PFL®
You hired a lawyer, signed your estate planning documents, and filed them safely away. Or maybe your fina...
“It Has Been Such a Good Life”: The Legacy Your Loved Ones Need | PFL®
When Anna Harp lost her father, Rudolph Clausing, she didn’t get to say goodbye. It was January 2021, dur...
Nobody Prepared Me for This! The Reality of Managing Inherited Real Estate | PFL®
You've just lost someone important to you, and now you're responsible for their home. Maybe it's sitting ...
100 Heirs, $17 Billion, and 1 Big Estate Plan: What You Can Learn from a Tech Billionaire | PFL®
Imagine you’re worth $17 billion and have over 100 biological children—some born through relationships, o...
What Happens to Your Child With Special Needs If You Suddenly Become Incapacitated? | PFL®
As a parent of a child with special needs, you understand their unique needs better than anyone, from how...
The Life-or-Death Decisions Your Family Shouldn't Have to Make Alone | PFL®
When you think about estate planning, you probably picture wills, trusts, and who gets what. But what hap...
The One Big Beautiful Bill: What It Means for Your Family's Financial Future | PFL®
The massive tax legislation known as the "One Big Beautiful Bill" became law on July 4, 2025, bringing sw...
What to Do Now to Prepare Your Child with Special Needs for the First Day of School | PFL®
Even though it’s still summer, the new school year will be here before we know it. As a parent, watching ...
When Paradise Turns to Pain: Jimmy Buffett's Estate Battle | PFL®
Jimmy Buffett built an empire around the laid-back "Margaritaville" lifestyle, but his $275 million estat...
Life, Liberty, and Legacy: How Life & Legacy Planning Promotes Independence | PFL®
Every Fourth of July, we celebrate more than fireworks and barbecues. We honor the bold vision of people ...
A Texas Mail Carrier's Act of Love Shows Why Your Pets Need a Plan Too | PFL®
When Ian Burke, a mail carrier from Destin, Texas, heard that Floyd—a 70-pound dog he'd befriended on his...
The Three Ages That Impact Financial Benefits for Children with Special Needs | PFL®
Raising a child with special needs brings unique joys and challenges, including financial considerations ...
What Priscilla Presley's Lawsuit Reveals About the Prevalence of Elder Abuse | PFL®
June is Elder Abuse Awareness Month, and there’s a case in the headlines right now that drives home just ...
Breaking the Cycle: How Life & Legacy Planning Protects Black Families' Generational Wealth | PFL®
The statistics are sobering. According to the Federal Reserve's 2022 Survey of Consumer Finances, the wea...
How to Keep Your Child with Special Needs Safe and Engaged This Summer | PFL®
As the school year ends and summer approaches, you might find yourself experiencing a mix of anticipation...
This Father’s Day Take Your Provision One Step Further | PFL®
Father's Day arrives each June filled with barbecues, baseball games, and heartfelt cards celebrating the...
Heads Up! Major Tax Changes on the Horizon | PFL®
The House recently passed what many are calling "One Big, Beautiful Bill" that could reshape the tax land...
Pride Month & Planning: Securing a Legacy That Lasts | PFL®
As Pride Month begins, we celebrate the progress made toward equality while acknowledging that LGBTQIA+ i...
Health Emergencies While Traveling with a Child with Special Needs | PFL®
Planning for Travel Emergencies with a Child with Special Needs Traveling with a child with special needs...
The Missing Will Mystery: How Zappos CEO’s Estate Chaos Could Have Been Avoided | PFL®
Imagine this: You’ve built a business empire, revitalized an entire city, and left a legacy of innovation...
Beyond Remembrance: How Memorial Day Can Inspire Leaving Your Own Legacy | PFL®
Memorial Day isn’t just about barbecues and long weekends—it’s a sacred time to pause and honor the men a...
PFL® firms in your area
Starsia Law PLLC
Hi, I’m Pam Starsia. I became a Personal Family Lawyer because I’m passionate about educating and empowering people to create estate, life, ...
Juniper Law, PLLC
I became a Personal Family Lawyer to help people like you and families like yours plan for the future. Facing the potential for incapacity a...
Dunlap Bennett & Ludwig
Hi. I’m John W. Heck. I became a Personal Family Lawyer because I have seen the consequences of failed estate planning in my immediate famil...
Edris Law
In my practice, I focus on Family Protection, Wealth Preservation, and Value-Based Planning. I’m also experienced with wealth planning strat...
Manikas PLC
I am an attorney dedicated to helping families in Virginia navigate the world of estate planning. With over 22 years of legal experience, I'...
Eskay Law Group LLC
Hi! I'm Jacquelyn Eskaya. With over 30 years of legal experience, I founded Eskay Law Group to provide families and individuals with expert ...
SG Law PLC
When I started law school in 2005, I wasn’t entirely sure what type of law I wanted to practice, but I knew I wanted to do something that tr...
Braggs Law Office
Dominique Carmichael Braggs is a seasoned attorney with a distinguished career in estate planning, elder law, and probate. She earned her Ba...
Mathews Law
Lisa loves helping families plan for their future! Estate planning has been a core aspect of Lisa’s practice from the beginning of her legal...
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