Tag: trusts
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What Happens If You Are Alive but Cannot Make Decisions on Your Own?
By JASON GRAY Pinnacle Law PLLC Most people understand why they need an estate plan when they die. Far fewer think about what may happen if they are still alive but can no longer make decisions for themselves. In many ways, incapacity can create more immediate problems for a family than death. Imagine…
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The Estate Planning Assumption That Gets Married Couples Into Trouble
By JASON GRAY Pinnacle Law PLLC Many married couples make a simple assumption about estate planning: “If something happens to me, my spouse can just take care of everything.” It sounds reasonable. You are married, you share a home, you may share bank accounts, and you have probably made important financial decisions together…
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What Happens to Your Estate Plan When You Move to Another State?
By JASON GRAY Pinnacle Law PLLC Moving to another state can mean a new home, a different lifestyle, and an entirely new chapter. People carefully update their driver’s license, vehicle registration, insurance, mailing address, and voter registration. One important item, however, is frequently forgotten. Their estate plan. A common question is whether a…
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What Is a Revocable Living Trust?
By JASON GRAY Pinnacle Law PLLC Most people have heard the word trust. Many assume it is a financial tool reserved for the wealthy or for those approaching the end of life. In practice, a revocable living trust is one of the most versatile and widely used estate planning tools available, and it benefits…
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The Most Expensive Estate Planning Mistake Is Often the Simplest One
By JASON GRAY Pinnacle Law PLLC When people think about estate planning mistakes, they usually imagine complicated legal issues. They worry about tax laws, trusts, probate, or whether they have enough assets to justify creating an estate plan. While those are important considerations, one of the most expensive mistakes people make is surprisingly…
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Who Will Take Care of Your Pets If Something Happens to You?
By JASON GRAY Pinnacle Law PLLC For many people, pets are not simply animals. They are members of the family. They greet us at the door after a long day, provide companionship during difficult times, and become part of our daily routines for years. Yet despite the love people have for their pets, one…
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Why Estate Planning May Be Even More Important If You Do Not Have Children
By JASON GRAY Pinnacle Law PLLC One of the biggest misconceptions about estate planning is that it is primarily for parents. Many people without children assume they have little reason to create a trust or other estate planning documents because there are no children to inherit their assets. As a result, they often postpone…
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The Biggest Gift Your Estate Plan Can Leave Is Peace of Mind
By JASON GRAY Pinnacle Law PLLC When most people think about estate planning, they immediately think about money. They think about who will inherit the house, how bank accounts will be distributed, or what happens to investments after they are gone. Those are certainly important questions, but they are not the most valuable…
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The Estate Planning Mistake People Make Right After Retirement
By JASON GRAY Pinnacle Law PLLC Retirement is one of life’s biggest milestones. After years of work, saving, and planning, many people finally reach the point where they can enjoy greater freedom and flexibility. They spend time traveling, pursuing hobbies, visiting family, and focusing on the things they never seemed to have enough time…
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The Three Words That Cause More Estate Planning Problems Than Almost Anything Else
By JASON GRAY Pinnacle Law PLLC Three simple words are responsible for more estate planning problems than most people realize: “I’ll remember that.” People use those words when thinking about where important documents are stored, how accounts are organized, who should receive certain assets, or what instructions they want their family to follow.…