Blog

Learn how to put your house in a trust if you have a mortgage. Discover how the Garn-St. Germain Act protects you from due-on-sale clauses for grantor trusts.

Learn how to avoid common estate planning mistakes for married homeowners. Explore Rhode Island laws on joint tenancy, tenants in common, and spousal rights.

Learn about the documents required for a complete estate plan, including wills, trusts, and powers of attorney, to protect your assets and your loved ones.

Is adding child to bank account enough for estate planning? Learn about probate avoidance, hidden risks like creditors, and better alternatives like living trus

Does having a will avoid probate for your family? Learn why a will alone does not skip the probate process and explore estate planning tools that actually do.

Financial power of attorney vs. living trust—what’s the difference? Learn how each works and why most estate plans need both.

Losing a spouse brings profound grief and complex legal tasks. Learn about probate deadlines, death certificates, and how to find support during this time.

Powers of attorney are a core part of estate planning under Rhode Island law, allowing you to authorize a trusted person to act for you in financial, legal, or medical matters if you cannot act for yourself. What a Power of Attorney Does in Rhode Island A power of attorney...

Losing a loved one is tough, and the thought of navigating the estate process, especially while grieving, can be daunting. While probate is the legal process necessary to transfer assets from the deceased person's name to their heirs or beneficiaries, it is not always required. Let’s look at common situations...

Grieving the loss of a family member is one of life’s most challenging experiences. The emotional weight of loss is compounded by stress and confusion, particularly when your loved one did not plan ahead. Without clear guidance from the deceased, families are left to navigate funeral arrangements, property sales, and...

When you hear the word “estate,” what comes to mind? For many people, it conjures images of sprawling mansions with acres of manicured land. Others might think of estate sales, where a lifetime’s worth of possessions are sold after someone passes away. Still others associate it with real estate transactions,...

A courtroom is a fantastic place for a lawyer to get a real education. I’m telling you, probate court is like a masterclass in “What Not to Do” when it comes to estate planning. I see all sorts of things, but the common theme is always the same: a badly-written...

Understanding the Rhode Island Probate Court system is essential for individuals and families navigating wills, estates, trusts, and guardianship matters. Whether an estate is straightforward or complex, probate courts play a central role in ensuring assets are distributed according to state law and a decedent’s wishes. For residents of Warwick,...

The holidays are such a great time to hit pause and reflect. As we gather around the table for those familiar, comforting meals, dig out ornaments with years of memories, and watch the sheer joy in a child’s eyes, I always think about Charles Dickens. He really nailed it with...

There’s a question that haunts me in the quiet moments: When I’m gone, what will people say my life meant? I used to think the answer would be found in my resume: the titles I held, the projects I completed, the professional milestones I achieved. I thought it would be...

Here’s a question I hear all the time. “Do I really need life insurance?” And right behind it comes, “How much should I actually have?” Let me answer the first one right away. Yes, you really should have life insurance as part of your comprehensive estate plan. I remember a...

It's easy to get confused about Living Wills and "Do Not Resuscitate" (DNR) orders. Many people worry both of these documents mean hospitals won't help you if you need it. But that's not the case at all! In Rhode Island, the Living Will and the DNR are two separate documents...

When people think about estate planning, wills and trusts often come to mind first. But there is a simple tool that can make a big difference in ensuring your assets pass smoothly to your loved ones: beneficiary designations. A beneficiary designation is a simple way to name who will receive...

Estate planning isn’t just for married couples, retirees, or people with large estates. If you’re a single woman, whether you’re building your career, raising children on your own, recently divorced, or enjoying retirement, it’s especially important to have a clear plan in place. Without a spouse as a default decision-maker,...

As the relaxed days of August unfold, we recognize it as National Make a Will Month—a perfect time to address an important task before the busy back-to-school season and holiday rush begin. Shockingly, about two-thirds of Americans lack any form of estate plan, whether it's a will, trust, or powers...