Can estate plan documents be updated? How do I change my Will? Can I name a different Durable General Power of Attorney?

Do you need a Revocable Living Trust? Or is a Will enough? How can you know? What are the differences between Trusts and Wills?

Can a Trust protect your identity? Let's say you win the lottery. Or you're a celebrity or have a high-profile job (like a politician, a judge, and/or a law enforcement officer). Perhaps you've got a lot of debt. Or maybe you're just a really private person. Whatever the reason, you want to disconnect your name from property that you own. So, can a Trust help you do that? The quick answer is probably not.

Many clients wonder what to do about bank accounts for estate planning purposes. The best option(s) for you may not be the best option for another person. And it might not be what your friend or family member did (or told you to do). Keep reading for the basics on your options, along with some points of consideration.

Fact: Chadwick Boseman died without a Will. And he’s not alone in this. Research shows that nearly 70% of adults in the United States don’t have Wills. So, what happens if you die without a Will? In a nutshell: the laws of your state take over. What does that mean? Keep reading…

FAQ: What happens to debt at death?

If you die with debt, those debts generally become the responsibility of your estate. Keep reading for all the info.

FAQs about Revocable Living Trusts: What is a trust? What is a revocable living trust? What are the PROs of having a revocable living trust? What are some MYTHS about revocable living trusts? What are the CONS of having a revocable living trust?

QUESTION: Single people don't need wills, right?

ANSWER: It depends on what you want to happen to your property when you die AND what types of property you own at your death.

Have you ever heard anyone talk about 'avoiding Probate' but aren't exactly sure what that means? This week, #unstuckestateplanning is focusing on five common questions about Probate.

#TipTuesday

Does having a Will avoid probate? Nope.

Keep reading for more info on why.

Whether you know it or not, in all of your property falls into one of two categories: probate or non-probate. Keep reading to find out why this matters…

QUESTION: When should I rewrite my will?

ANSWER: It depends on what has changed in your life since it was first written. Keep reading to find out some of the most common times when revision is either a good idea or even necessary.

A safe deposit box (aka safety deposit box) is a great place to store valuable and/or important things, right? Well, it depends (and yeah, it's totally fine to insert a groan here for this classic lawyer non-response).

The Executor (or Executrix or Personal Representative) is the person (or people) you name in your Will who will be responsible for carrying out the terms of the document after you die. The exact duties vary from state to state, and can even vary within a state based on the specifications of different Wills.

You're asking for a friend, right? Don't worry, I won't tell. Read on to learn the basics.

Starting a conversation with your loved ones (whether it be your parents, your partner, your siblings, your children, or others) about estate planning can feel overwhelming for many reasons. Here are five tips to help you begin.

Today (Halloween) is a holiday with a rich backstory. A quick skim of the Wikipedia page on Halloween reveals a number of traditions celebrating today (and the few days that follow) as a way to honor the memories of our loved ones who have died. The timing of Abundance NC's annual Death Faire (this year, November 3 in Pittsboro) is not coincidental. They offer this event as "an attempt at changing our culture around death, dying, and ultimately living well."

I regularly hear, "it's too complicated," as one of the main reasons people haven't written a will. For people with blended families, complicated finances, numerous lengthy and specific property distribution bequests, and/or vast amounts of wealth - yes, it can be complicated.

Getting your estate plan documents written is (more than) half the battle. But, before you shove those freshly signed, witnessed, and notarized documents in a drawer somewhere and forget about them (and by the way, don't do that!) - please be sure you aren't making one of these seven deadly estate planning mistakes - they are all totally avoidable!