Statutes like the "slayer rule" exist for the most tragic scenarios—those rare and difficult cases where an individual stands to inherit from someone whose death they may have caused. While fortunately uncommon, these situations serve as a stark reminder of why comprehensive backup language in an Estate Plan is so critical. A high-profile case out of California has brought this complex intersection of criminal law and estate administration back into the public eye. The … [Read more...] about When Backup Language Matters Most: Lessons from the Reiner Estate Dispute
Is Your Estate Plan Living in the Past? 10 Signs It May Be Time for an Update
An Estate Plan can be perfectly signed, neatly stored, and still be wrong for the life you are living now. That is the quiet risk with an outdated plan, the documents may look official, but the people, assets, and assumptions behind them may no longer match reality.Estate Planning is not something most people want to revisit often, which is understandable. Once the Will, Trust, powers of attorney, and health care documents are signed, it is tempting to put everything away and feel done. The … [Read more...] about Is Your Estate Plan Living in the Past? 10 Signs It May Be Time for an Update
Still Fighting: The Estate Planning Legacy of Shannen Doherty
The best-drafted estate plan in the world can still end up in a legal cage match if you invite the wrong people to the party.Pop culture icon Shannen Doherty learned this the hard way. Known for playing fierce, unapologetic characters on Beverly Hills, 90210 and Charmed, Shannen passed away from breast cancer on July 13, 2024, at age 53. While she was an absolute powerhouse who took vital legal steps to protect her legacy, the messy aftermath of her death serves as a masterclass in why your … [Read more...] about Still Fighting: The Estate Planning Legacy of Shannen Doherty
Declare Your Independence From Intestacy
Every Fourth of July, we celebrate a simple but powerful idea: that people have the right to determine their own destiny. We celebrate the courage of individuals who rejected someone else’s rules and insisted on making their own. And then, statistically speaking, most of us go home and allow our state legislature to make some of the most important decisions of our lives.I have written before about the horrors of intestacy and what happens when someone dies without a Will or Trust in place … [Read more...] about Declare Your Independence From Intestacy
The Living Trust “Lock-Down”: What Happens When a Spouse Passes Away?
When you and your spouse sit down to create a joint revocable living trust, it feels great to check that major box. You have built a single, flexible bucket designed to protect your family and pass down your hard-earned assets without the nightmare of probate court.But a question we hear all the time at our workshops and family consultations is: “What actually happens to this trust when one of us passes away?”Many couples assume the trust just stays exactly the same until they are both gone. … [Read more...] about The Living Trust “Lock-Down”: What Happens When a Spouse Passes Away?
When Estate Planning Documents Say One Thing—and Mean Another
"Equal" sounds fair. It sounds right. In a blended family, it often feels like the only way to avoid World War III at Thanksgiving. But in the real world, "equal" can hide outcomes that nobody would call fair after the fact.Here is what Casey and I see happen all the time. After the first spouse passes away, everything stays in one big pot. The surviving spouse goes on living life. They might remarry—hey, love is beautiful the second time around—or step-relationships might get a little … [Read more...] about When Estate Planning Documents Say One Thing—and Mean Another
The Ultimate “Thanks, I Hate It” Gift: Why You Shouldn’t Put Your Timeshare in Your Trust
Let’s talk about your legacy. You want to leave your kids the house, the vintage watch, and maybe that secret recipe for award-winning chili. What you don’t want to leave them is a financial zombie that eats their bank account for the next 40 years.Enter: The Timeshare.While it seemed like a great idea in 1998 after two margaritas in Cabo, putting your timeshare into your Living Trust might be the fastest way to become the "Least Favorite Parent" from beyond the grave. Here is why the team at … [Read more...] about The Ultimate “Thanks, I Hate It” Gift: Why You Shouldn’t Put Your Timeshare in Your Trust
Do I Really Need a Revocable Trust? What Estate Planners Won’t Tell You
Key TakeawaysHere are the essential insights about revocable trusts that can help you make an informed decision without the sales pitch: Revocable trusts aren't tax shelters - They provide no estate tax benefits and offer zero creditor protection during your lifetime, despite common misconceptions. You genuinely need one if you own property in multiple states - This avoids costly ancillary probate proceedings in each state where you hold real estate. Setup costs range from … [Read more...] about Do I Really Need a Revocable Trust? What Estate Planners Won’t Tell You
IRS Warning: The 2026 Dirty Dozen Tax Scams
Each year, the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) publishes its “Dirty Dozen” list of the most notorious tax scams from the prior year. The Security Summit, a partnership among the IRS, state tax agencies, and the nation’s tax industry, has enacted a broader campaign under which the Dirty Dozen falls. For the nerds reading this blog, March 5, 2026, was “National Slam the Scam Day” and the IRS released the Dirty Dozen on that day to help raise awareness. The list alerts both taxpayers and tax … [Read more...] about IRS Warning: The 2026 Dirty Dozen Tax Scams
Why “That Would Never Happen” Is the Most Dangerous Phrase in Estate Planning
As estate planning attorneys, we hear certain things so often we could practically finish the sentences for our clients. Usually, they’re said with a confident smile: “My kids get along great.” “My family is very close.” “That would never happen in our house.”We love hearing about strong families. But experience has taught us something no textbook can: those three phrases are often the "fault lines" where a legal plan eventually breaks apart.Planning for Reality, Not Just … [Read more...] about Why “That Would Never Happen” Is the Most Dangerous Phrase in Estate Planning
