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Many estate plans contain revocable living trusts that will become irrevocable (cannot be easily changed or terminated) when the trustmaker dies. Such trusts may benefit the surviving spouse during their lifetime and may continue for the benefit of several additional generations. Because these tr...

How To Handle Out-of-State Property in Your Estate Plan  Out-of-state property can present unique legal and logistical challenges regarding estate planning. Understanding how to manage these properties within your estate plan is essential to prevent delays and avoid unnecessary costs for your he...

Rising housing costs, the desire for companionship, and the need to share resources are increasingly leading buyers to consider co-owning a home with someone other than a spouse, such as a friend, relative, or significant other. Although this arrangement can be beneficial on several levels, it ...

Common Estate Planning Myths Debunked Estate planning can feel overwhelming, and many people delay it because of misconceptions. Whether you think you're too young, your estate is too small, or that your family can handle things after you're gone, it's important to understand that proper plannin...

Watch Bill discuss the 3 most important questions that you should address in creating your estate plan.

Myths and Frequently Asked Questions Incapacity Planning   Myth 1: I do not have to worry about becoming disabled or unable to manage my financial and personal affairs because I am young.  Reality: Anyone can become disabled, at any age. While the odds of disability increase with age, it is n...

Bills and Services to Cancel—and Keep—When a Loved One Dies A loved one's passing is challenging on many different levels. In addition to the emotional difficulty of processing someone's death, there are also the many tasks that must be dealt with, such as going through their various accounts a...

What Happens to Elvis' Legacy Now? Elvis Presley, the King of Rock and Roll, died in 1977. Like most celebrities of his stature, he left behind a complicated legacy—and a considerable estate. Elvis' estate, including Graceland, ended up in the hands of his only child, Lisa Marie Presley, who p...

Your estate plan, like your home, periodically needs a thorough polishing. Your life circumstances are constantly changing, and an estate plan that perfectly met your needs a couple of years ago may now be cluttered with outdated provisions or documents. With spring fast approaching, now is the t...

Three Tips for Overwhelmed Executors While it is an honor to be named as a trusted decision maker, also known as an executor or personal representative, in a person's will, it can often be a sobering and daunting responsibility. Being an executor requires a high level of organization, foresight,...

Creating an estate plan is a personal and often emotional undertaking, making the selection of your estate planning attorney of the utmost importance. Here are some questions you should ask your estate planning attorney to determine if they are the right person for the job. Why did they pick est...

Everyone knows that one day they will have to accept the fact that they are mortal and will pass away.  However, many people never consider the possibility that they might become incapacitated at some point and therefore, fail to make a plan.  Watch Bill Kilpatrick in one of his webinars go ove...

If you have minor children and have not yet selected a guardian, you are not unlike many parents who put off this critically important task while waiting for the perfect solution to present itself. Or perhaps you and your spouse/partner cannot agree on who would be the ideal guardian for your ki...

Estate planning rarely comes up in the course of regular conversation and if it does, it is usually involves what has happened to a celebrity's fortune after his or her death. The distance is safe, so the conversation can take place. But what if you need to discuss estate planning with a loved on...

If you came to this page to find out what I'll charge you for a Will or you are considering calling me (or any other attorney) to ask, “How much do you charge for a will?” stop. It's not the right question. The question you need an answer to first is “What do I really need to have in place to ens...

Did you know that the best-selling item at Walmart is bananas? It's true, and has been for several years. So the next time you need a great price on your favorite yellow fruit, go ahead and head for Walmart. But steer clear of the world's largest retailer when you need a will or other estate plan...

As an Estate Planning attorney, I see many of the same estate planning mistakes made time and again by people who either fail to plan properly or who use “do-it-yourself” estate planning websites or forms in an effort to save money. Without professional guidance, this can cause more problems for...

If you have young children, chances are that your summer activities include some careful planning to keep them safe from harm. Unfortunately, even with proper precautions in place, accidents do happen and not just to children. Have you planned for what will happen to your children if you are the ...

A will is one of the most basic estate planning documents, and everyone living in Destin, Fort Walton Beach, Niceville or South Walton should have one to make sure that there is no question about what would happen to your assets and kids if something happens to you. But there are some cases when ...