FAMILY LAW BLOG
IRA Fit Your Estate Plan?
When you think of IRAs, you probably think of retirement. But what happens to your IRA money after you’re gone? The answer depends on how you go about creating your estate plan and selecting beneficiaries, and you might be surprised to find out that your money could...
Protect Your Child’s Inheritance
You can protect your child's inheritance from their spouse by planning early. Parents who develop an estate plan often do so to provide for their heirs financially. Many want to make sure hard-earned assets, family heirlooms, or closely held businesses stay within the...
Do I Really Need an Estate Plan?
Do I really need an estate plan if I don't have a large estate? You don’t need to have a summer house in the Hamptons or a private art collection big enough to rival MOMA to consider yourself the owner of an estate. In fact, virtually anyone who owns anything has an...
Get Your Affairs in Order
Five words no one ever wants to hear from their doctor: “Get your affairs in order.” Unfortunately, 58 percent of Americans do not have a will or trust, and it often requires a chronic disease or terminal illness diagnosis, or other life-changing event to prompt the...
Will vs. Trust: Which is Right for You?
When you sit down to create your estate plan, there are likely dozens of questions running through your mind. Who should get possession of your home? Who should run the family business? Will you create a college fund for your grandkids? What charity should you donate...
College and Estate Planning
Why You Should Include College in Your Estate Planning You may have been running around for weeks, getting your new college student off to school. It's exhilarating, and your heart likely is bursting at the seams. You're probably prouder than words can express, but...
3 Asset Protection Tips You Can Use Now
A common misconception is that only wealthy families and people in high risk professions need to have an asset protection plan. But in reality, anyone can be sued. A car accident, foreclosure, unpaid medical bills, or an injured tenant can result in a monetary...
Parental Kidnapping
Parental kidnapping is a terrifying thought when you are in the middle of a custody battle or thinking about separating. Family abductions are the second largest number of child abductions. According to NISMART-2, an estimated 800,000 children younger than 18 are...
Domestic Violence Abuse Quiz
117 questions to help you know if your partner is abusive and assess your risk Recognize Abusive Behavior Recognizing abusive behavior can be difficult, especially if healthy relationships weren't modeled in your childhood home. You may believe that love hurts—it...
Can I Date Now?
Dating While Separated. Is It Ok? What is separation for purposes of divorce in North Carolina? Legal separation in NC is living separate and apart with the intent to divorce. How long does it take to get a divorce in NC? It takes one year from the date you separate...