Families encounter many professionals after a loved one’s passing. Religious leaders, funeral home directors, and probate lawyers often form a new cast of characters, while the familiar medical team steps back. Who can help you find this new team of…
"I inherited my childhood home." There’s a whirlwind of intense, complex emotions within those five words. For some people, their childhood home evokes mostly happy memories, but now also grief and loss. For others, those earlier happy memories are eclipsed…
What’s the greatest gift you can leave your family? You may think – an inheritance, of course. But what kind of inheritance? Sure, money’s welcome. But a lifetime’s belongings in an overflowing garage? Not so much. Yet often, relatives who…
Executors and administrators of estates are often called upon to deal with challenging legal and financial logistics during their time of grief. If my clients have served as estate representatives before, the legal and financial work involved is more familiar.…
It’s a new year – a good time to focus on the forest through the trees and answer my most frequently asked question. It’s also a time to remember and reexamine our highest callings, so I devoted some serious time…
I once discussed helping clients open up about sensitive family dynamics and personal finances with another estate planning attorney. He said, “What’s the problem? Everything’s confidential.” He was both right – and wrong. A client’s communications with his or her…
Losing a loved one is an emotional and life-changing experience. You might be tasked with the responsibility of settling the estate while also grieving your loss. It can be a challenging time in anyone's life. However, it becomes even more…
Decisions about moving into assisted living facilities are never easy. However, when your elderly parent or grandparent is struggling with Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia, they can be particularly challenging. Challenges of Moving with Dementia For those with dementia,…
Taking on the task of caregiver for an older or dependent adult can be challenging and stressful. But it can also be rewarding, because knowing you’re enhancing your loved one’s quality of life is a good feeling. However, the burden…
