Estate planning is the process of making legal arrangements for what happens to your assets, your children, and your medical decisions if you become incapacitated or pass away. It's not just for the wealthy — it's for anyone who wants to make things easier for their loved ones during a difficult time.

Without an estate plan developed by you, you still have one — it’s just determined by your state’s laws. This is commonly referred to as the “default estate plan” and your state’s intestacy laws decide who gets your assets and when/how, who cares for your minor children, and who makes decisions for you if you're incapacitated — and it all requires costly, time consuming, and public probate.

A Will only takes effect after you pass away and most often requires public court oversight (probate). A Trust, on the other hand, goes into effect while you're still living and can help your family avoid probate, maintain privacy, and manage assets more efficiently. Which one is best for you depends on your goals and whether you have minor children. If avoiding probate, keeping things private, or managing assets for minor children is important to you, a Trust is likely the better option.

A Financial Power of Attorney gives someone the authority to handle money, bills, real estate, and other property to make decisions or take actions on your behalf if you become unable to do so.

A Medical/Healthcare Power of Attorney allows someone to make medical decisions for you if you’re incapacitated. Without a Healthcare Power of Attorney, no one has the legal right to make decisions for you without court approval.

A Living Will lets you spell out your preferences for end-of-life care — like whether you want to be on life support if you’re in a permanent coma or vegetative state. An Advance Directive is broader (but often includes your living will) and can be used to direct your medical care wishes in a wider range of situations, including temporary incapacity or when faced with a chronic health condition that may affect your future healthcare needs.

You can name guardians in your Power of Attorney and Will for minor children, set up a Trust to manage inheritance no matter the age of your children, and leave instructions that give your children emotional and financial stability if the unthinkable happens. Legally naming guardians of minor children in your estate planning documents is one of the most important things you can do as a parent.

Yes. If you don’t name who should inherit your assets or make decisions for you, the state will decide — and it may not reflect your wishes. An estate plan gives you full control to support who and what you care about, including friends, pets, and charities, not just your next of kin.

Yes! Without a plan, your business could end up frozen in probate, passed to someone who doesn’t know how to run it, or even sold. A good estate plan ensures continuity and clarity of your expectations and wishes.

If you're over 18, you should have at least basic estate planning documents. Major life events — getting married, having children or welcoming your first grandchild, buying a home, starting a business, planning for retirement — are all great times to start or update your plan.

A good rule of thumb: review it at least every couple of years or anytime there's a major life change — such as marriage, divorce, new baby, relocation, or significant financial and asset changes.

Estate planning is an investment — not just in documents, but in peace of mind. While there is an upfront cost, it’s often a small fraction of what your loved ones could spend later in public probate costs and court fees, legal disputes, or delayed guardianship of your minor children or access to your assets — especially if there’s no clear plan in place.

A thoughtfully prepared plan tailored to your goals and wishes helps either avoid or greatly minimize probate, prevents family conflict, and ensures your wishes are carried out smoothly — and when it comes to something this important, cost alone shouldn’t be the deciding factor.

Just reach out! You can contact me here to schedule a consultation to talk through your goals. I’ll guide you through the process from start to finish.