Navigating legal matters can often feel like sailing through uncharted waters. Probate is an area that can be particularly daunting, especially if you are dealing with it in North Carolina. Probate is the legal process through which a deceased...
Read moreEmpty Nester
As the kids grow up and leave the nest, empty nesters embark on a new phase of life characterized by newfound freedom and the opportunity to focus on their own needs and desires. Your kids are now “adults,” so there’s no need to worry about who...
Read moreGuardian vs Godparent
Recently, a friend asked my husband and I to be Godparents for one of their children. Our first thought was “About time someone asked us; We’d make great Godparents!” Kidding … We were incredibly humbled and honored and are thrilled to fill such...
Read moreEstate Planning for Single or Separated, or Divorced Parents
Parenting is hard. But when a single parent is raising a child, or when separated or divorced parents are raising a child, often, decisions about the child’s upbringing are harder or amplified. This rings true especially when it comes to estate...
Read morePolish-American Heritage Month
October is Polish-American Heritage Month! Who knew?! It’s exciting to be able to look back to my childhood and where I came from. I was born in Warsaw, the capital city, and recall the hustle and bustle of buses, trams, and city lights. Coming...
Read moreWhat to Consider When Designating Your Beneficiary
In my world, there are two types of assets – those controlled by your will, and those controlled by beneficiary designations. Assets that are controlled by your will are called “probate” assets, because they pass according to your will with...
Read moreImportant Things to Consider When Choosing Guardians
Thinking about who would raise your child if something happened to you and your spouse is definitely not something anyone wants to think about. And, quite frankly, the likelihood that you and your spouse will both pass away while your child is...
Read moreTeaching Children About Financial Literacy
It is never too early to teach your kids about financial literary! In fact, teaching your kids how to earn, spend and save money can have a critical effect on their economic wellbeing in adulthood. We rely on schools to teach our kids science...
Read moreWhen Do You Know Your Estate Plans Are Ready?
“I’ve signed my DIYed estate planning documents and now I am all done!” Wrong. It’s important to understand that these documents are just part of estate planning. Making sure that your plan incorporates your assets and your debts is the next...
Read moreHere’s What They Don’t Tell You About Online Wills
Google, while an excellent tool for so many things, won’t be able to tell you everything you need to know about estate planning. Even more specific websites that claim to help you write your own will cannot walk you through the specifics that...
Read moreTop Three Reasons DIY Estate Planning Fails
Have you ever been inspired by something on Pinterest, then tried to recreate it yourself, only to fail hilariously? Do-it-yourself or DIY estate planning is kind of like that, except when it fails, it is not hilarious. The websites that entice...
Read moreCommon Estate Planning Terms
Different people can have different names for the same thing. Different states have different definitions for the same thing. In the law, terms don’t always carry a common sense meaning. It’s confusing! Let’s examine the terms and definitions for...
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