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
Estate Planning
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 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
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
Should I Put My House in My Trust? (Kansas Homeowners Guide)
One of the most common questions we hear from new clients is surprisingly specific:“I created a trust… so why is my house still in my name?”Or sometimes:“Do I actually need to put my home into my trust?”If you own a home in Missouri or Kansas and are considering - or have recently created - a revocable living trust, this question is critically important.Because here’s the reality:👉 A trust only controls assets that are properly titled into it.And the home is often the most … [Read more...] about Should I Put My House in My Trust? (Kansas Homeowners Guide)
How Buss Family Infighting Drove the $10B Sale of the Lakers: An Estate Planning Cautionary Tale
How Buss Family Infighting Drove the $10B Sale of the Lakers: An Estate Planning Cautionary TaleWhile checking a sports app on an entirely unrelated matter, I came across an article that veered well outside traditional sports reporting and squarely into the realm of estate planning for family-owned businesses. The headline immediately caught my attention: “How Buss Family Infighting Drove the $10B Sale of the Lakers.” Naturally, I clicked.What followed was a story filled with intrigue, … [Read more...] about How Buss Family Infighting Drove the $10B Sale of the Lakers: An Estate Planning Cautionary Tale
Choosing the Right Trustee: Why Trustee Selection Can Make or Break Your Estate Plan
Why Trustee Selection Can Make—or Break—an Estate PlanEvery estate planning attorney advises clients that choosing a Trustee is one of the most consequential decisions in an estate plan. And for good reason: the right Trustee can preserve a legacy for generations, while the wrong one can unravel even the most carefully drafted documents.In law school and on the bar exam, attorneys learn the theoretical duties of Trustees—loyalty, prudence, and impartiality. Most clients grasp these concepts … [Read more...] about Choosing the Right Trustee: Why Trustee Selection Can Make or Break Your Estate Plan
Will AI Replace Estate Planning Attorneys?
Will AI Replace Estate Planning Attorneys?Why Human Judgment Still Matters More Than Perfect DocumentsArtificial intelligence is advancing at an astonishing pace. Tools now exist that can draft contracts, summarize complex information, and generate documents in seconds. It’s fair to ask the question many people are quietly wondering:If AI can eventually draft “perfect” estate planning documents, will attorneys still be necessary?The short answer is yes.The longer—and more … [Read more...] about Will AI Replace Estate Planning Attorneys?
Choosing the Right Decision-Makers in Your Estate Plan: THEN vs OR vs AND
One of the most common (and most important) questions we get from clients is how to list agents on Powers of Attorney, trustees in a trust, or people in other positions of authority.Should it be: Agent #1 THEN Agent #2? Agent #1 OR Agent #2? Agent #1 AND Agent #2?On paper, these options can look minor. In real life, they can be the difference between smooth decision-making and a complete breakdown when it matters most.Our short answer, almost every time:You want a … [Read more...] about Choosing the Right Decision-Makers in Your Estate Plan: THEN vs OR vs AND
Tax Planning for 2025 and Beyond
Year-End Tax Planning After OBBBA: What Trusts & Estates Clients Need to Know Heading into 2026Have I mentioned that this is my favorite time of year? Temperatures fall, spirits rise, and I spend a few weekends decorating my yard and home for the holidays. There’s real magic in this season—but I’ve never been one to ignore reality. For me, that means turning at least part of my attention to tax planning as the year winds down and a new one begins.Some years Congress tweaks the tax laws … [Read more...] about Tax Planning for 2025 and Beyond
