Last Wills and Testaments: More Frequently Asked Questions

August 28, 2025
Brian Hicks
Estate Planning, Our Blog, Probate & Trust Administration

August is National Make a Will month — a fantastic opportunity to learn more about this essential type of estate planning tool. Wills form the foundation of a solid estate plan. Creating one can be a first step toward protecting...

Key Documents for Parents of Children With Special Needs

August 21, 2025
Brian Hicks
Estate Planning, Our Blog, Special Needs Planning, Wills & Trusts

One in five children in the United States have special needs, per the Annie E. Casey Foundation. These include children with physical, developmental, and behavioral disabilities. Beyond day-to-day responsibilities such as taking a child to medical appointments or providing direct...

Can I Give My Kids $19,000 a Year and Apply for Medicaid?

August 14, 2025
Brian Hicks
Elder Law, Estate Planning, Medicaid Planning, Our Blog, Wills & Trusts

If you have money to give your children, you certainly can, but you should be aware that you may face consequences should you apply for Medicaid long-term care coverage within five years after each gift. In 2025, you can give up...

Benefits and Drawbacks of Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) Orders

August 7, 2025
Brian Hicks
Estate Planning, Our Blog, Wills & Trusts

If you stop breathing or your heart stops, health care providers will typically do everything they can to save your life, including cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). However, some people choose to have a Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order in place. What...

Estate Planning for Pets? 3 Famous Pet Inheritance Stories

July 31, 2025
Brian Hicks
Estate Planning, Our Blog, Wills & Trusts

You may consider pet trusts little more than eccentric things that famous people create for their pets when they have too much money. Yet, pet trusts have become much more mainstream in recent years. In fact, in 2016, Minnesota became...

Why Aren’t More Older Adults Thinking About Long-Term Care?

July 23, 2025
Brian Hicks
Elder Law, Estate Planning, Medicaid Planning, Our Blog, Probate & Trust Administration, Senior Living, Wills & Trusts

After decades of handling our daily personal care needs without giving them a second thought, it is hard to imagine needing help with these tasks. However, research shows that about one in seven adults aged 65 or older will need...

Estate Planning Is a Show of Respect and Love for Family

July 17, 2025
Brian Hicks
Estate Planning, Our Blog, Probate & Trust Administration, Wills & Trusts

In 2022, the world learned that legendary actor Bruce Willis – known for his memorable starring roles in Die Hard films, the cult classic Pulp Fiction, the Golden Globe-winning TV series Moonlighting, and much more – had been diagnosed with...

Special Needs Planning for Blended Families

For blended families that include a child with special needs, financial and legal planning extends well beyond the usual parental concerns. But as with all family matters, proactive planning can help.

Why the Social Security Retirement Age Is Now 67, Not 65

July 3, 2025
Brian Hicks
Elder Law, Estate Planning, Our Blog, Senior Living, Wills & Trusts

In 2025, Americans born in 1960 are reaching age 65, a milestone that for decades has been associated with retirement. Many people still think of 65 as the age to claim full Social Security retirement benefits. But for those born...

Can You Give Away Real Property and Avoid Probate Court?

June 26, 2025
Brian Hicks
Estate Planning, Our Blog, Probate & Trust Administration, Wills & Trusts

If you plan to pass your home on to a family member through your will, keep in mind that your loved one will likely need to go through the court process known as probate to properly transfer the home into...