"When spouses decide to divorce, the usual framework is a process involving attorneys and the court system. But as modern family life is complex, it is becoming more common for spouses to remain permanently separated yet not divorced. It’s a state of gray that many...

"An estimated 27 percent of U.S. pet owners who have wills include provisions for their pets, but according to Fat Cats & Lucky Dogs, they’re often ill-conceived or inadequate. They simply leave Max the dog to Uncle Harry, for example, without covering expenses or...

Our hope, of course, is that everyone will take the time to get their will written and their estate plan in place. Having these documents simplifies things tremendously, both in life and in death. However, recent statistics tell us that half the US population has not...

Getting your estate plan in place is a big accomplishment and an even bigger relief. However, don't just place your documents on the shelf and mentally check them off your list. As this article outlines, one of the biggest mistakes people make with their estate plan...

We are pleased to welcome Scott Hendrix, Wealth Manager at Upstream Investment Partners, LLC, to share some valuable insights on how to track down unclaimed assets. Do you have money waiting to be claimed? You've worked hard for what you've earned, but are you missing...

"The 21st century has been marked by a generation of resourceful self-starters. With the advancement of technology and widespread social media outlets, there are unlimited resources available with how-to instructions for just about anything. The do-it-yourself concept...

"When the time came for my mother to make the decision to end life support for my dad, she kept repeating that he had a living will and this is what he wanted. In all my years of practicing law, and after all the living wills and health care proxies I had prepared, it...

"Grandparents and parents may not know the best way to pass down their wealth to the next generation, which involves more than minimizing estate taxes that will be owed on the inheritance. When one dies with considerable assets, they have several options for places to...

"For many, dividing the inheritance equally among their offspring is a deeply held value. But it isn’t always easy: What if one child is a successful professional with a good pension plan, and the other is a struggling artist who may never have adequate health...