What Is a Last Will and Testament, and Do I Need One?

May 15, 2025
Brian Hicks
Estate Planning, Our Blog, Probate & Trust Administration, Wills & Trusts

What first comes to mind when you hear the term estate planning? Like most people, you probably think of a will, also known as a last will and testament. Though many important documents constitute an estate plan, the will is...

Wendy Williams Case Shines Spotlight on Guardianships

May 1, 2025
Brian Hicks
Elder Law, Estate Planning, Our Blog, Senior Living, Wills & Trusts

Dementia is on the rise and is affecting millions of families across the United States. As dementia erodes a person’s mental faculties, they lose the ability to manage their life. This can lead to losing money through bad financial decisions...

Per Stirpes vs Per Capita: What Do These Mean in a Will?

April 24, 2025
Brian Hicks
Estate Planning, Our Blog, Probate & Trust Administration, Wills & Trusts

A Will Is Part of Your Estate Plan Creating an estate plan is essential for ensuring that your wishes are honored regarding who inherits your money and property and that your loved ones are taken care of after you’re gone. It...

Seniors and Caregivers: Establish an Emergency Action Plan

April 10, 2025
Brian Hicks
Elder Law, Estate Planning, Our Blog, Senior Living, Wills & Trusts

For seniors and their caregivers, having a plan in place should an emergency strike can provide some peace of mind in a turbulent world. A crisis, such as illness, trauma, natural disaster, or any other unexpected adverse event, may one...

Spring Cleaning for Your Estate Plan: Review and Revise

March 27, 2025
Brian Hicks
Estate Planning, Our Blog, Probate & Trust Administration, Wills & Trusts

Estate planning is a valuable aspect of financial and personal planning that ensures your assets are managed and distributed according to your wishes and that your health care preferences are followed. However, creating an estate plan is not a one-time...

Protecting Your Parents’ Assets From Nursing Home Costs

March 20, 2025
Brian Hicks
Elder Law, Estate Planning, Medicaid Planning, Our Blog, Senior Living, Wills & Trusts

The aging U.S. population means that more people will likely need nursing home care in the coming decades. Meanwhile, the cost of nursing home care is increasing — and is expected to keep increasing. With the exorbitant cost of nursing home...

Proper Retirement Planning Avoids Underestimating Care Costs

February 27, 2025
Brian Hicks
Elder Law, Estate Planning, Medicaid Planning, Our Blog, Senior Living, Wills & Trusts

It can be easy to underestimate the amount of money we will need for health care and long-term care after we retire. Not knowing exactly what care we will need and with the costs of all types of care rising,...

Estate Planning for a Vacation Home

February 6, 2025
Brian Hicks
Estate Planning, Our Blog, Probate & Trust Administration, Wills & Trusts

If you are fortunate enough to own a vacation home, you need to figure out what will happen to it after you are gone. Many people in this situation hope to keep vacation homes in the family. Guaranteeing that can...

Deducting Long-Term Care Insurance Premiums in 2025

January 30, 2025
Brian Hicks
Elder Law, Estate Planning, Medicaid Planning, Our Blog, Senior Living, Wills & Trusts

The population of older adults in the United States has been growing steadily in recent years. According to the U.S. Census, the number of Americans who are age 65 and older grew more than 9 percent in just three years,...

Estate Planning for Parents of Children With Mental Illness

January 2, 2025
Brian Hicks
Estate Planning, Our Blog, Special Needs Planning, Wills & Trusts

Mental illness in the United States is more common than most people may think. More than one in five U.S. adults live with a mental illness and one in six U.S. youth aged 6 to 17 experience a mental health...