Choosing an attorney can be challenging. With countless ads on the radio, television, and billboards, it may be hard to know what to look for or who to call. In fact, in many cases, the attorney featured in those ads does not focus his or her practice on the area where you need help. Here are some tips from my experience in the Estate Planning field.

The thought of your 18-year-old, newly minted, high school graduate sitting down with an attorney to make an estate plan may seem a little strange.  After all, they have no assets to divide and no spouse or children to provide for. However, as a young adult heading out into an unpredictable and sometimes dangerous world, there are two vital estate planning documents that young adults should have in place before heading to college, or wherever life may take them.

Several times a week clients ask me whether they should add an adult child to the deed on their home. Often, a friend or family member has recommended this practice in an effort to avoid the “dreaded” probate process and make things “easier” at death. With the exception of adding a spouse to a deed, my answer is usually the same when presented with this question – NO. The risks almost always outweigh the benefits. Here are four risks associated with adding a non-spouse to your real estate deed.

For many of us, death and faith are very much intertwined. Therefore, when contemplating death, it makes sense to evaluate ways in which our faith can be integrated into our estate planning documents. As a Colorado Springs Estate Attorney, I meet with clients from many different cultures and religious backgrounds every day. Many of them have a desire to communicate their faith and comply with its doctrines as the end of life nears. Here are some simple ways to do so.

Losing a loved one is one of the most difficult and overwhelming experiences in life. The initial shock can feel impossible to overcome, and many people become paralyzed by grief. However, when a death occurs, whether expected or not, there are a number of actions that need to be taken in the days and weeks to come. Here are some of the steps you will likely need to take after a loved one passes.

Would you remove your own appendix? No? Then, don’t draft your own will.