These are just a few reasons why it is important for you to know the following about estate planning:   

Minor children can be legally protected with a Kids Protection Plan, which provides parents with important legal tools to name short- and long-term guardians, provide instructions and guidelines for those guardians and execute medical powers of attorney that allow you to dictate medical care for your minor children in case they are injured and you are not with them.

A will and a living trust are both essential estate planning tools, and although both can be used to transfer assets upon death, they serve separate purposes.  A living trust can take effect while you are alive or after death.  It allows you to hold assets for your benefit during your life, which may prove useful if you become incapacitated in the future. A living will can also be beneficial if you own real estate in another state. A will only takes effect upon death, and is used to appoint guardians for minor children, cover assets that are not part of a living trust and create trusts that kick in after death.

Women need to execute financial and healthcare durable powers of attorney and consider choosing a member of the family if that person is willing to assume the responsibility of making financial and/or medical decisions on your behalf in case of incapacity. And, if you are married or partnered, make sure your spouse or partner does the same because you’ll be the one who is handling things if anything happens to your spouse/partner and you want it to be as easy as possible.

The challenges of managing a vacant inherited home go far beyond simply deciding whether to keep it or sell it. From the moment you take responsibility for the property, you're facing security risks, maintenance issues, insurance complications, and legal responsibilities that most people never anticipate.

Let's walk through what you can expect and how to protect both the property and your family's interests.

The Immediate Security Concerns You Can't Ignore

The first 48 hours after someone dies can be critical for protecting their home. Unfortunately, there are people who see a death announcement or funeral notice as an opportunity. Break-ins during funeral services happen, and an obviously empty house can become a target for theft or vandalism.

In a recent interview with Le Point magazine, Pavel Durov, the co-founder of Telegram, revealed exactly that. Durov, who is just 40 years old, says he has six children through relationships with three partners and over 100 more conceived through anonymous sperm donations across 12 countries.

Despite this staggering family tree, Durov says he plans to leave his fortune equally to all of his biological children. Most of us won’t leave behind a tech empire, a billion-dollar estate, or triple-digit biological children.

But Durov’s story reveals something important: no matter how complex or simple your life may seem, you need an estate plan that works. Here's why.

But with so many options out there, how do you know which ones are the best fit for your family’s unique needs?

At our firm, we’ve worked with countless families to integrate education funding into their broader estate plans. In this guide, we’ll walk you through some of the most effective tools available today, highlight the pros and cons of each, and explain how they can be seamlessly integrated into your existing plan.

The Most Effective Tools for Education Funding

When it comes to saving for education, there are a variety of accounts and strategies available—each with its own set of advantages and considerations. Here’s a closer look at a few of the most powerful tools:

1. 529 Plans: A Versatile, Tax-Advantaged Option

529 Plans have become the go-to option for many families, and for good reason. These tax-advantaged savings plans allow your contributions to grow tax-free, and withdrawals remain tax-free as long as they’re used for qualified education expenses. In recent years, 529 Plans have only improved. Since 2020, they’ve expanded to cover not only college tuition but also K-12 education and even apprenticeships.

A recent federal investigation uncovered a chilling truth: in dozens of cases, patients showed signs of life even as hospital staff prepared to remove their organs.

If your loved ones were in that position, would they know what to do? More importantly, would they know what you would want?

In this article, I’ll explain how a comprehensive Life & Legacy Plan protects not just your loved ones, but you. We’ll explore the risks of poor planning, how to make your medical wishes known, and how to ensure no one makes life-or-death decisions for you without your voice.


Organ Donation Without Clarity Can Go Horribly Wrong

According to a June 2025 New York Times report, in 2021, Anthony Thomas Hoover II's family faced their worst nightmare when he overdosed and was near death. They gathered and made the excruciating decision to end life support and donate his organs. As the hospital prepared for the removal procedure, something surprising happened.