Does Treating Your Children Fairly Mean Unequal Inheritances? When creating an estate plan, many parents aim to treat their children fairly. But fairness does not always mean equality—especially when each child has different needs, responsibilities, or life circumstances. In some families, the fairest approach may involve unequal inheritances. In this post, we examine the times when […]
Is an Income Tax Time Bomb Lurking in Your Estate Plan? The federal estate tax exemption has grown significantly—from $5 million in 2011 to nearly $14 million in 2025. As a result, far fewer families face federal estate tax issues today. But there’s another kind of tax concern that’s increasingly relevant: income tax basis planning. If […]
Deployment on the Horizon? What You Need to Do to Get Your Affairs in Order In recent posts, we’ve discussed how estate planning can support families during life transitions such as marriage, parenthood, or divorce. This week, we focus on military personnel. Specifically, we cover which legal and planning steps to take before a deployment, […]
Estate Planning Strategies to Protect Your Spouse In recent posts, we’ve discussed topics such as divorce and estate planning as well as disinheriting a spouse. This week, let’s focus on what you can do to protect your spouse in estate planning. Marriage legally positions you to provide long-term financial security for your spouse through legal […]
The death of a loved one leaves behind more than grief—it leaves traces of their presence in the quiet corners of our lives. A jacket still holds their cologne. A favorite chair reminds us of where they once sat. The sound of a song, the smell of a flower, or even the sight of their […]
5 Reasons a Family Member May Not Be the Best Trustee Choice Establishing a trust is one of the most important decisions you can make to protect your assets and provide long-term security for the people you care about. But no matter how carefully the trust is drafted, its success largely depends on one critical […]
No one likes the idea of the government stepping in to manage private affairs—especially when it comes to money and property. But without an estate plan, that’s exactly what can happen. If you pass away without the proper legal documents in place, your hard-earned assets could end up in state control through a process called […]
How Estate Planning Can Support a Loved One’s Education One of the most powerful legacies you can leave is the opportunity for a loved one to pursue their education without the burden of overwhelming debt. Through thoughtful estate planning, you can contribute to a child or grandchild’s academic goals in a way that aligns with […]
An Outdated Law That Still Disrupts Estate Planning Some laws seem so outdated they feel like trivia—such as the ban on tying a giraffe to a telephone pole or wearing a fake mustache in church. But not all outdated laws are harmless or forgotten. Dower rights, which date back to English common law, still actively […]
Is It Time for an Annual Estate Planning Retreat? In today’s fast-paced world, finding time to focus on long-term goals can feel nearly impossible. At Skvarna Law, we often see how easy it is to get caught up in day-to-day responsibilities while important priorities, like estate planning, get pushed aside. One way to stay on track […]
