An Estate Planning Blog for Middle Tennesseans

In all parts of the country, and certainly here in middle Tennessee, services such as Airbnb have grown in popularity over the past few years. Indeed, these alternatives to hotel stays are popular among homeowners and vacationers alike. If you have a home or other rental property that is generating income, you should understand the following asset protection and estate planning considerations.

You don’t need to have a summer house in the Hamptons or a private art collection big enough to rival MOMA to be the owner of an estate. In fact, virtually anyone who owns anything at all has an “estate” in the eyes of the law.

You care so well for others, but what about you? Have you prepared for your own care? Working together, we can craft the best possible estate planning prescription that will protect you today, tomorrow, and well into the future.

When your child turns 18, the law views them as an adult, and you no longer have the ability to control what and how decisions are made, or even receive relevant information about those decisions. But what if you have a child who is disabled? That child may need help making financial or medical decisions. What will happen to them? How can you continue to care for them if needed?

One of the first things you can do in your estate planning is establish a special or supplemental needs trust (SNT) for the benefit of your child or grandchild. An SNT is a special type of trust...

Although estate planning best practices were likely first created with these traditional families in mind, additional strategies have been developed to create a robust and protective estate plan for a blended family as well.

Deciding on a guardian for your minor children may very well be the most vexing decision you’ll make regarding your estate planning. Not only must you trust the appointed guardian to raise your children as you’d want them raised, but you also need that person to be financially responsible with your children’s inheritance.

As a new parent, you might be struggling to figure out what steps you need to take to protect your child's future should the unthinkable happen. Here are five key points every new parent should know about wills.

Though preparations for holiday festivities and the new year may look a little different this December, the value of taking stock of your estate plan and finances before the end of the year has not changed. Before you launch into the new year, here are some things we recommend adding to your year-end checklist...

With a celebrity’s passing, we realize that death is an equalizer. It also reminds us of the importance of estate planning to protect a person's money and property. Estate planning is not reserved for those with large amounts of wealth or larger-than-life personalities.

It is the time of year to slow down, get caught up with loved ones, enjoy the family, and experience quality time together. It might not be the first thing that comes to mind, but it is a great idea to take this opportunity to review your estate plan and talk about the topic with your loved ones.

To avoid becoming a victim of estate planning fraud, it is important to identify the different forms that estate planning fraud may take, the signs to watch for, and the steps to take when seeking competent estate planning counsel.

There’s an entire category of your legacy that is commonly overlooked and worth considering – your digital assets. Don’t worry if you didn’t factor in these assets when you made your will or trust. It’s surprisingly common and, luckily, easy to correct.

You've probably focused on the fact that, on the cusp of graduating from high school, your child is almost an adult now—meaning that she is going to spread her wings. But what is essential to remember: At 18, a college student may still want her mom and dad by her side if she gets sick, but legally, decisions for medical care are no longer yours to make.

Real estate encompasses not only one’s primary residence but also other real estate such as a vacation home or a rental property. The ideal form of ownership varies depending on the type of real estate you own. We take a look at several types of real estate and offer suggestions about which type of ownership might be best for each.

You can alleviate the stress of caregiving by checking if your aging parents or adult children have legally valid and up-to-date estate planning documents in place, and if they do not, encouraging them to have these important documents prepared...

As we all have learned from 2020, unpredictable events can occur at any time:  fires, hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, pandemics—you name it.  We want you to have the peace of knowing that you are prepared for the unexpected.  Although none of us can predict the future, there are some things you ...

Myth 1:  My spouse can make all of my healthcare and financial decisions because he/she is my spouse. Reality:  This is not always the case.  To make sure your spouse can indeed make important decisions on your behalf, you should sign a financial and health care power of attorney and an advance ...

In 2008, Congress recognized the need for the public to understand the importance and benefits of estate planning by passing House Resolution 1499, which designated the third week of October as National Estate Planning Awareness Week. An estate plan can provide significant peace of mind by ensuring your assets are protected, plans are in place in the event you become ill, and your property is passed down according to your wishes.

It is a common misconception that financial management and estate planning are reserved for the fabulously wealthy, folks like the Earl of Grantham and Lady Mary of the popular television drama, Downton Abbey. Regardless of how much you have in the bank, though, you and your family can benefit from planning ahead for the future.