HOLLY

By: Attorney Holly Ziemer You probably assume that if something happened to you, the other parent would step in and everything would work itself out. In many families, that’s true. But not always. Real life is messy. Parents separate. Relationships become contentious. Custody disputes drag on for years. And when a tragedy occurs in the […]

By: Attorney Holly Ziemer Estate Planning for Unmarried Couples: Protecting the Person You Love You and your partner have built something real together. Maybe you share a home, split the bills, and have been each other’s go-to person for years. In every way that matters, you’re family. The problem is, the law doesn’t see it

By: Attorney Holly Ziemer If you are in a blended family, you may believe the simplest estate plan is the fairest one: “I’ll leave everything to my spouse. They’ll take care of my kids.” That approach often works in a first and only marriage. If you and your spouse share the same biological or adopted

By: Attorney Holly Ziemer Here’s What Happens to Your Retirement Accounts After You Die Retirement accounts like 401(k)s and IRAs often represent the single largest category of wealth for U.S. families. According to recent data, retirement funds in these accounts alone total roughly $21 trillion, and for many households, they compose over 34% of average

By: Attorney Holly Ziemer Why Quick and Simple Estate Plan Reviews Don’t Exist When someone calls an estate planning attorney asking for a “quick look” at their documents, the request usually sounds straightforward. Maybe the documents were created using an online service and they want to “just be sure” the documents are sound. Perhaps there’s

By: Attorney Holly Ziemer When planning for your death, there’s one issue you may not have thought about but is so important to your beneficiaries: will your loved ones have to pay taxes on what you leave them? The answer isn’t straightforward because it depends largely on the types of assets you’re passing down, how

By: Attorney Holly Ziemer Protecting Your Legacy: Why Life & Legacy Planning Matters for Black Families February is Black History Month, a time to honor the resilience, achievements, and contributions of Black Americans. It is also an opportunity to reflect on the future and the legacy you are building for your family. For many Black

By: Attorney Holly Ziemer The Lady Bird Deed: Five Risks to Consider Beyond Medicaid Protection  You own your home. Maybe it’s your most significant asset. Perhaps you’ve heard about Lady Bird Deeds and how they can help you avoid probate and protect your home for your children. A friend told you about them, or maybe

By: Attorney Holly Ziemer What Happens to Your Debt When You Die? It’s a question I hear often: if I die with debt, will my family be stuck paying it off? The short answer is it depends on several factors, including the type of debt you have, how your assets are titled, and whether anyone

By: Attorney Holly Ziemer If you’re planning for your own future or helping aging parents, understanding options for living and long-term care isn’t just about finding a nice place to live. It’s about navigating a complex web of legal, financial, and personal decisions that will affect quality of life, inheritance, and family dynamics for generations