Blog • The Law Firm of Blanche D. Smith, P.C.

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Family Conversations About Your Estate Plan

By The Law Firm of Blanche D. Smith / December 19, 2022

With holidays upon us, you’ve got a lot on your mind, right? Turkeys and ham don’t make themselves, and the longer you put off gift shopping, the more stressful that affair becomes. And then, of...

Tough Conversations About Estate Planning Around the Holidays

By The Law Firm of Blanche D. Smith / December 11, 2022

In a world driven by social media, it’s easy to feel as if, despite all the insight we have into each other’s lives, our loved ones are further away than ever. And indeed, the data...

If Only Anne Heche Had Drafted an Estate Plan…

By The Law Firm of Blanche D. Smith / December 7, 2022

Anne Heche was an Emmy award-winning actress, well-known for her roles in such blockbuster hits as Donnie Brasco and I Know What You Did Last Summer. Well, we know what Heche didn’t do last summer:...

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How Living in a Community Property State (Like Texas) or a Common Law State Affects Your Estate Planning

By The Law Firm of Blanche D. Smith / October 26, 2022

Every state has unique statutory requirements for creating, integrating and implementing its estate planning laws. Every state, likewise, has unique marital interest laws that affect an estate plan. Therefore, if you are married or plan...

Don’t DIY It: Why Online Wills and Trusts Might Not Hold Up

By The Law Firm of Blanche D. Smith / October 14, 2022

In recent years, it seems like DIY estate planning services are popping up everywhere. These providers allow you to prepare your Wills and Trusts online at a considerably lower cost than it would take to...

Remembering a Loved One: 6 Ways to Step Up Your Memorial of a Loved One

By The Law Firm of Blanche D. Smith / September 18, 2022

Losing a loved one is never easy. After you say your final goodbyes, the lack of their presence in your life often leaves a gaping void, a sense that you have lost something special. However,...

Congrats on Having an Estate Plan…But, Where Are You Storing It?

By The Law Firm of Blanche D. Smith / August 25, 2022

So, you’ve got an estate plan… congrats. You’re officially better prepared for the future than two-thirds of the population. According to new data, only 33% of US adults have drafted any kind of estate planning...

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Estate Planning Trends: Generational Differences in Estate Planning

By The Law Firm of Blanche D. Smith / August 18, 2022

Believe it or not, your birthday probably has a big effect on how you think about estate planning. However, we are not talking astrology. A Scorpio with a moon in Gemini isn’t more likely to...

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This is So Unfair: Let’s Talk About Unequal Inheritance

By The Law Firm of Blanche D. Smith / July 12, 2022

Fair doesn’t always mean equal. If you’re out for dinner with your kids aged two and ten, you’re not going to order them the same meal. Likewise, if you’re at a CrossFit class with a...

Protecting Your Family’s Security: Integration of Your Estate Plan and Your Financial Plan

By The Law Firm of Blanche D. Smith / June 20, 2022

If you’ve been following our blog, you know that estate planning is an important step in protecting your family’s financial security. Whether drawing up a Will or establishing a Trust, an Estate Plan is an...

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