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Congratulations on your new home. Whether you are officially a first-time homeowner or moving up (or scaling back) to a space that better fits your life, buying a home is a major milestone. While you are busy picking paint swatches and unboxing the kitchen, do not forget that a new deed often signals a new financial landscape and a new asset to plan for. Now is the perfect time to align your estate plan and financial goals with this new chapter.

Most people think of a will as a legal document that says who gets what. That’s true—but for many Christians, a will can also be a final act of stewardship: a way to care for family, reduce confusion, and leave a clear testimony of faith. A Christian Will is a traditional last will and testament that intentionally reflects Christian beliefs and values alongside standard estate-planning instructions.

The notion of fairness often pervades family dynamics and may continue even beyond death when decisions about dividing accounts and property arise. The law has attempted to address different notions of fairness with a variety of distribution strategies. Per stirpes, by representation, and per capita are key terms in wills and trust agreements that specify the way money and property are to be equitably divided. As you explore these distribution methods, observe how they achieve fairness in different ways and with different results.

Inheriting a home is not a bad thing—far from it. With home prices at record highs and many Americans priced out of the market, inheriting a house can be a life-changing opportunity. However, without proactive estate planning and frank conversations about the true costs of home ownership, it can also bring surprise expenses, family conflicts, and tough decisions.

While many proactive individuals understand the importance of having a comprehensive estate plan, they often assume that their plan only covers what happens after they pass away. However, a complete estate plan also aims to positively influence your life by planning for and securing necessary protections while you're still around to enjoy the benefits. 

Your estate plan is one of the most important sets of legal tools you will ever create. An estate plan is designed to protect you, your loved ones, and your money and property. However, an estate plan is not a “set it and forget it” set of legal tools. While estate plans are designed to have some flexibility, they are created at a specific moment in time and need updating as your life changes. If your plan has not kept up with your life, it could fail when you need it most or perform differently than intended.

You have decided to meet with an estate planning attorney to get your affairs in order and ensure that your loved ones are protected. Now that you have scheduled the appointment, it is time to get yourself organized and prepare for the first meeting.

Estate planning often feels complex, leading many people to rely on assumptions that can have devastating consequences for their loved ones and their legacy. From who can make decisions for you to whether you need an estate plan, common myths can stand between you and a secure future. Let’s debunk these widespread misconceptions and reveal four essential truths about effective estate planning.

Many people believe that a simple will is all they need to accomplish their goals for the future. However, a flawed estate plan can create just as many headaches, heartaches, and expenses for your loved ones as having no plan. Life changes, laws evolve, and even the best intentions can fall short, leaving family members facing court battles, unexpected taxes, or painful disagreements. Here are 12 common mistakes that might be hiding in your estate plan that can jeopardize your hard-earned money and property, diminish your legacy, and place unnecessary burdens on your loved ones. Ask yourself: Is my current plan truly ready for the future, or is it time for a review?

After a loved one passes away, their money and property that go through probate must be distributed to those legally entitled to them, either according to a last will and testament (also called a will) or the state’s default distribution scheme (found in its intestacy statute). While most people want the settlement process completed as soon as possible, probate can take up to 12 months in some states. The delays create unnecessary stress, especially for families who need access to those accounts or properties to pay their deceased loved one’s taxes, expenses, or legally valid debts.

When a person dies owning property in their sole name without a designated beneficiary, their loved ones must undergo a court-supervised process called probate to transfer the property from the deceased person’s name to the name of the intended beneficiaries or heirs at law. Going through probate court may lead to various expenses, including fees for attorneys, executors, appraisers, accountants, court filings, and other costs required by state law. Depending on the probate’s complexity and the estate’s value, fees can easily run up to tens of thousands of dollars in some states.  However, many costs can be reduced by avoiding probate altogether.

Golf, like life, has a way of humbling even the most experienced among us. Conditions change. Variables shift. What worked last time might come up short today. Estate planning is no different. It is about knowing the terrain, making smart choices with the tools you have, and adjusting as life throws you its fair share of water hazards, wind gusts, and bunker shots. August is National Golf Month. While you are out there working on your game, remember that in the game of life, you should also be developing your estate plan. As with golf, an estate plan takes careful preparation and continual refinement for the best results.

From the moment a child is born, a parent feels an instinctive urge to protect and nurture. We childproof our homes, carefully select schools, guide them through adolescence, support their careers, and watch with pride as they forge their own paths.Thinking ahead, you might have set up a trust for your child at birth or soon after, knowing you wouldn't always be there to provide financial support. Like your living, breathing child, the trust you create for them must grow as they do. It should be a flexible, evolving legal tool that matures alongside them, from first steps to first jobs, from childhood to adulthood. You may not always be there, but with the right trust setup and thoughtful updates, your care and protection can be.

When thinking through their estate plan and how they want their assets (money and property) managed after they pass away, most parents wish to treat their children equally, often out of a sense of fairness. However, sometimes being fair or doing what is right by your children may mean giving unequal inheritances.

Whatever the time of year, it is always good for members of the military and their loved ones to create or revisit their estate plan. Military families face unique estate planning considerations that others do not, especially when a family member is deployed overseas or receives a temporary duty assignment. In addition, service members have access to special benefits and resources that can add complexity to the planning process, so seeking help if you are a military family is important.

Fewer people are creating estate plans today than in years past. Research shows that, in 2024, less than one-third of Americans report having a will. Every adult—whether they are 19 or 99—should have a will at a minimum. Many people can also benefit from estate planning documents such as trusts, powers of attorney, and advance directives. But even if you have created a comprehensive estate plan, it may no longer align with your objectives if it is not up to date.

While the story of Snow White is just a fairy tale, important lessons can be learned. We all want our loved ones to have happy endings. Had the king engaged with an estate planning attorney to put his affairs in order, the outcome of this story might have been drastically different. At the law firm of L. Theodore Hoppe, Jr., Esquire - Attorney at Law, we can help you take steps to avoid the bad outcomes that are part of the typical fairy tales.

Today more young adults are living at home with their parents than at any time since the 1940s. While there are many different opinions about this trend and the cause of its recent prevalence, the primary motivation for young adults staying at home with their parents is usually related to finance...

When creating an estate plan, we look at what is going on in your life at that time. But because life is full of changes, it is important to make sure your plan can change to accommodate whatever life throws your way.

Giving money to charity can provide personal and financial benefits to donors and be a part of the legacy they leave behind. If you are thinking about making a charitable gift—either now or when you pass away—there are some things to be aware of so you can make the most of your donation.

While television and movies provide great entertainment, they are not always factual. Even shows based on real events are not entirely accurate. Creators of television programs and movies will often alter details of a story or situation to provide an enjoyable experience. Because of these widespread embellishments, people often develop misconceptions about many industries and professions, including attorneys and estate planning.

When developing your estate plan, addressing every account or property you own is nearly impossible. There are sure to be some things you unintentionally overlook. However, by including a residuary clause, you can intentionally disburse any remaining items inadvertently left over during the estate or trust administration process to a named beneficiary or group of beneficiaries.

It is normal for married couples to share almost every aspect of their lives with each other. But when it comes to death, even the closest couples might become tight-lipped about certain topics. As uncomfortable as it might be to discuss subjects like burial arrangements and remarriage, they should be broached as part of creating a comprehensive estate plan. Seemingly mundane details, such as the location of important documents and contact information, should also be addressed.