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
Estate Planning
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 That is the quiet risk with an outdated plan, the documents may look official, but the people, assets, and assumptions behind them may no longer match reality.Estate Planning is not something most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
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
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
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
Why Updating Your Estate Plan in 2025 Matters More Than Ever
Estate planning used to be something people did once—and then forgot about. But in 2025, laws have changed, family situations have changed, and the technology people use to find legal information has changed even faster.If you want your estate plan to actually work when your family needs it, this is the year to update it.Major Law Changes You Need to Know About (Missouri & Kansas)SECURE Act & SECURE 2.0These laws changed: how retirement accounts are inherited … [Read more...] about Why Updating Your Estate Plan in 2025 Matters More Than Ever
Missouri vs. Kansas: DNR, Living Will & Catholic Advance Directive — What You Really Need to Know
If you’ve ever felt confused by the alphabet soup of medical decision-making documents — DNR, Living Will, Advance Directive, Catholic Directive — you’re in good company. Even highly educated adults mix these up, especially when Missouri and Kansas insist on having different rules.So let’s break this down in a way that’s clear, useful, and even a little entertaining.Why This Topic Matters (And Why Most People Avoid It)Before we get into state differences, here’s a fun fact (and … [Read more...] about Missouri vs. Kansas: DNR, Living Will & Catholic Advance Directive — What You Really Need to Know
No Surprise Bills: Because “Gotcha!” Should Be Reserved for April Fools and Not Your Lawyer
At Gaughan & Connealy, we’ve worked with thousands of families over the years—smart, thoughtful folks just like you—and we’ve noticed a universal truth:No one wants to get a surprise bill from their lawyer.Shocking, right? Turns out, “mystery invoices” don’t spark joy.That’s why we do things differently. When you work with us, we’ll never hit you with a “Gotcha!” bill because you dared to send us an email or ask a follow-up question. We believe in clear, honest, up-front pricing. Our … [Read more...] about No Surprise Bills: Because “Gotcha!” Should Be Reserved for April Fools and Not Your Lawyer
Your Kids, Your Legacy, and the IRS: Why a Conduit Trust Might Just Be the MVP of Your Estate Plan
Let’s face it—nobody wakes up and says, “I can’t wait to figure out how my retirement assets are taxed after I die.” But at Gaughan & Connealy, we do wake up excited about that (don’t judge us—we’re estate planning attorneys, it’s our thing). And one of our favorite tools for making your legacy smoother, smarter, and more tax-savvy? The conduit trust.Wait, what’s a conduit trust? Is that like a trust that’s good with plumbing?Not quite. Though it does help keep the IRS from clogging up … [Read more...] about Your Kids, Your Legacy, and the IRS: Why a Conduit Trust Might Just Be the MVP of Your Estate Plan
