Everyone tells you to get your affairs in order—no one tells you how. When it comes to estate planning, a lot of people don’t know where to start, while others hastily throw plans together that don’t fully consider their family situation or financial goals. As estate planning lawyers, we see it all of the time, so when we work with…

If you live long enough, you learn that life never goes as planned. Things happen, and you have to adjust. So, while we never plan to get into an accident or suffer a medical emergency, when it happens, we need to know what comes next. In most cases, if you don’t already have legal documents in place, like a power…

Estate planning—like most financial topics—is one of those things that you’re expected to know, but no one really teaches you about it. And once you get started, things can get even more confusing with all the different tools. Between wills, trusts, beneficiary designations, deeds, and other instruments, the options seem endless, yet all so similar. Transfer on death (TOD) deeds…

Talking about estate planning isn't exactly a light conversation starter. Thinking about our own mortality and what happens after we're gone can feel pretty morbid. But here's the thing: Having an estate plan in place isn't just about preparing for the inevitable end. It's about protecting your loved ones, your assets, and your values during your lifetime, too. At Cary…

A special needs trust is a powerful tool designed to safeguard the financial well-being of individuals with disabilities while preserving their eligibility for crucial government programs like Medicaid and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). If your loved one were to receive a substantial inheritance or legal settlement — without proper planning — that windfall could disqualify them from the very benefits…