Probate Attorney Blog

#RichLifeLawyer Show 42: Estate Planning is NOT Death Planning When most people think of estate planning they think of death planning. They think of the 4 D’s. 1. Divide 2. Dump 3. Defer 4. Dissipate This is death planning at it’s core. And it’s a terrible mindset to bring to estate planning. Estate planning should be aspirational. It should be inspirational. It should not be centered on death because that’s not the point. Estate planning is not about death planning,…

I think the reason people do things is important. It gives you an insight into what kind of job someone will do from you, particularly when talking about something so personal as your legacy. So I wanted to share why it is that I decided to become an estate planning attorney. The video says it all, but here is a short summary… 1. I Want to Have Lifetime Relationships With My Clients One of the great things about being an…

#RichLifeLawyer Show 041: 3 Ways Estate Planning Can Help You That You Might Not Know I’ve talked before about what most people think of when they think of estate planning (and why that is dead wrong – pun intended). Today I wanted to talk to you about three ways estate planning can help you that you might not have thought of. Those three things are: Power of attorney; Medical power of attorney; and Health care directive (AKA living will) These…

#RichLifeLawyer Show 040: Why You Should Consult a Financial Planner A lot people are afraid of financial planners. And I get that. Hiring a financial planner for a consultation brings up a lot of demons. First, you have to be honest about your finances – what you have and what you don’t. Second, you have to get real about where you want to go in the future. And third, you have to face the reality of battling between having fun…

#RichLifeLawyer Show 039: A Question For Every Estate Planning Attorney I wish all estate planning attorneys were created equal, but they’re not. Most want to get it right, they really do. But there are many different definitions of what the term “right” means. For one estate planning attorney, right can mean the latest greatest trust vehicle. For another it can mean eliminating as much estate tax as possible. The key to finding the right estate planning attorney for you is…

#RichLifeLawyer Show 038: Reason #2 to Have a Trust – Protecting Your Kids From Themselves This is the second in our installment of endless reasons to have a trust (that don’t include avoiding probate. The one I’ve got today is another doozie. Just a little education to keep that mind sharp. Cheers, Christopher Small P.S. Don’t forget to check out my free ebook: “7 Estate Planning Mistakes Every Family Needs to Avoid.” It’s packed full of helpful information to help…

#RichLifeLawyer Show 037: Reason #1 You Should Have a Trust – Credit Shelter Let me start by saying the belief that one should have a trust just to avoid probate is a bit misguided. In fact, it is wrong. But, there are many many other reasons why you should have a trust. Here is the first: Cheers, Christopher Small P.S. I’m hosting a FREE webinar: How to Create Generational Wealth for As Little as $50/month (and how to keep your…