What Is The One Thing You Didn't Do To Prepare For the Birth Of Your Child?

As a soon-to-be new parent you probably read "What to Expect When You Are Expecting" cover to cover, right?  Along with baby name books, Parenting Magazine, nutrition books, "The Happiest Baby on the Block," and the list goes on.  Then you were probably busy taking prenatal yoga, birthing and breastfeeding classes.  You had the hospital bag packed before you took the hospital tour too?

• Decorated the nursery
• Secured the carseat in the car with some help from the local safety police class
• Hung all the baby clothes by size & color
• Had every diaper, cream, and lotion all ready on the changing table 

You did it all - or as much as you could while carrying around an extra 30 pounds and taking bathroom breaks every 20 minutes because there was a foot kicking your bladder.

However, for all the "prep" work parents do, very few do one of the MOST important things every parent needs when they have a child....put a Kids Protection Plan in place.

It is hard to think about you not being there for your child, but it is even harder for you to think about and your child to try and survive without you if you didn't have the foresight to plan.  At the very least, name trusted family and friends to act as your child's guardian in the event you are not able to do so even for a short period of time.

It may seem sad or too difficult, but a Kids Protection Plan will actually give you an immense feeling of peace and relief knowing your child will always be taken care of by someone you choose after careful consideration.  It is also really easy and you can get started right NOW from the comfort of your home.  

It is our mission to provide "a plan for every family" and here is a great way to get started for FREE.  Visit http://wilsonlf.kidsprotectionplan.com and name legal guardians with us walking you through the process virtually.  You will end up with legally binding documents nominating your chosen guardians.

If you need even more help and guidance, call (978) 296-4140 or email info@wilsonlf.com with questions or to schedule a Family Plan Session to design a complete estate plan.  If you are one of the first 2 families to book this week for the last week of August we will be able to waive the session fee!  You have nothing to lose and everything to gain.  Good luck and we would love to hear how your virtual Kids Protection Plan turns out!



Wilson, lf is a family-focused boutique law firm specializing in estate planning located in Andover, Massachusetts and Washington, DC.  We help parents like you organize your affairs, in style, to protect your investments and provide for your loved ones.  We are so passionate about providing "a plan for every family" that we meet families throughout Massachusetts and DC in their homes or offices and have some evening and weekend appointments available every month for utmost convenience. www.wilsonlf.com

Getting Your Affairs In Order: One of the Best Things You Can Do For Yourself & Your Family

Wilson, lf Featured in Woman's Day Magazine

Have you been meaning to put a will in place, but just never seem to find the time or the motivation?  There is no better time than the present, especially since you never know if and when something will happen to you or your family!

Woman's Day Magazine recently consulted with and featured Wilson, lf in an article noting the importance of getting your affairs in order.

The overall benefit is the peace of mind knowing that you have taken the necessary steps to protect and provide for your family.


Here are the key takeaways:

1. Don't procrastinate!  Yes, these are hard decisions to make, it may seem overwhelming and expensive, but it doesn't have to be.  The worst plan is no plan!  Have you thought about what would happen to your family if something happened to you today?
2. The Key Documents You Need to Put In Place: Everyone knows they need a will, but that is only one piece of the estate plan (and not the best option for most families who own a home and have young children).  You should also have a Power of Attorney, Health Care Proxy, Advance Directive/Living Will, HIPAA Release, Homestead Declaration (in MA), and a Family Trust.
3. Take Stock:  While it is critical to have your estate plan documents in place, it is also very important to organize your financial assets, instructions, and legacy into an easy to comprehend manual for your family and trusted friends to be able to reference when you are not there to tell them where everything is.
4. Choose Your Key People:  You need to have trusted family and friends help you and your family if something happens to you.  You will rely on them to care for your children, handle your finances, and make medical decisions for you.

Wilson, lf is a family-focused boutique law firm specializing in estate planning located in Andover, Massachusetts and Washington, DC.  We help parents like you organize your affairs, in style, to protect your investments and provide for your loved ones.  We are so passionate about providing "a plan for every family" that we meet families throughout Massachusetts and DC in their homes or offices and have some evening and weekend appointments available every month for utmost convenience. www.wilsonlf.com

The Talk You Need To Have With Your Parents: It is Not The Birds & The Bees, But Maybe Just As Uncomfortable

When you were a kid, your parents dreaded the talk they had to have with you.  You know the one.  Well, now that you are an adult, there’s a talk you need to have with your parents that is likely to be just as squirm-worthy – which is why so many of us put it off.  

It’s about money.  Specifically, your parent’s money.  The money that may become yours one day. Or may not. 

Whether you or your parents think it’s none of your business, it is.  You are most likely the one(s) who will need to deal with all the financial issues your parents leave behind when they become incapacitated or after they die. 

Not knowing anything about their finances will place you at an immediate disadvantage, making what will be a hard job almost impossible.  

So how do you get the conversation started?  Here are some tips from a recent New York Times column on the subject:

Think about what you need to know.  You need to know more than where to find the will, you need to know if parents have executed powers of attorney, advance health care directives or a trust as well.  You need to know if they have life insurance or other assets and, if so, where the policy is located.  You need to know if they keep a list of all their debts and, if they bank and pay bills online, you need their log-in information for each account.  

Bring in a support team.  Your parents may feel more comfortable discussing financial issues with their attorney or financial planner present to facilitate the conversation. They may also feel more comfortable talking with all their children at once, or to only one – take family dynamics into consideration.  And call us in at the beginning of the process.  We can help ease the way tremendously.

Make a plan.  Chances are you will need immediate access to cash in order to pay expenses related to a parent’s passing.  Since probate can be a lengthy process, you may want to plan for this eventuality by having parents establish a revocable living trust, which allows assets to pass outside probate.  

Document storage.  Be sure your parents do NOT store their important documents in a bank safe deposit box  without taking precautions because getting at them could require you to obtain a court order.  First, make sure they have instructions on where the box is and who has permission to open it if anything happens to them.  Maybe even make sure you are a signer (and there are back-ups besides you) on the safe deposit box.  Or just use a strongbox or safe that is kept in the home instead. 

If you would like to have a talk about estate planning for your family, call our office today to schedule a time for us to sit down and talk. We normally charge $750 for a Family Plan Session, but because this planning is so important, we’ve made space for the next two people who mention this article to have a complete planning session with your parents at no charge. Please call, (978) 296-4140, email info@wilsonlf.com, or visit our website www.wilsonlf.com to learn more about how we can help you give yourself and your parents peace of mind.

Wilson, lf is a family-focused boutique law firm specializing in estate planning located in Andover, Massachusetts and Washington, DC.  We help parents like you organize your affairs, in style, to protect your investments and provide for your loved ones.  We are so passionate about providing "a plan for every family" that we meet families throughout Massachusetts and DC in their homes or offices and have some evening and weekend appointments available every month for utmost convenience. 

Happy Father's Day! Want to Know The Gift He Will Cherish Forever?

One of the best ways for you to show your husband you love him and your family is to help put all of your family's financial ducks in a row and make sure your kids are taken care of by the people you love...no matter what!

If you own a home and have minor children, a Family Plan Session, valued at over $750, is essential to your family.  And while most men are resistant to coming to this planning session, they absolutely love it after they've gone through it.

During the Family Plan Session you and your husband will:

1. Choose the right guardians for your kids and avoid making any of the "6 Common Mistakes" most parents make.
2. Get your financial house in order and keep it that way!  Believe it or not, the second part is what most parents fail to do since once they go over their finances with a financial advisor, check it off their list and fail to maintain the plan.
3. Learn how to prepare your kids for life without you!  You are always teaching your children how to do things for themselves and be independent, but how much have you really prepared them to do so if they could no longer depend on you or your husband?
4. Learn how to legally avoid all estate taxes!  If you had the choice to give money to your kids or give it to Uncle Sam, who would you choose?  Exactly!
5. Learn the secret to protecting your kid's inheritance from lawsuits and divorce!  Giving money outright to your kids is not the most responsible choice.  Why not protect their money from themselves and those who would go after their money?
6. Discover how to leave your loved ones a far greater gift than all the money in the world!  Do you know the #1 gift people ask for when they lose a loved one?  Well, we can help you give that gift to each other and your kids!

The Family Plan Session is absolutely free for Father's Day and there is no obligation and no pressure; think of it as the parenting session you didn't get at the hospital.  Please call, (978) 296-4140, email info@wilsonlf.com, or visit our website www.wilsonlf.com to learn more about how we can help you give your husband the gift of a lifetime.

Wilson, lf is a family-focused boutique law firm specializing in estate planning located in Andover, Massachusetts and Washington, DC.  We help parents like you organize your affairs, in style, to protect your investments and provide for your loved ones.  We are so passionate about providing "a plan for every family" that we meet families throughout Massachusetts and DC in their homes or offices and have some evening and weekend appointments available every month for utmost convenience.