Written by Gerry W. Beyer, JD, LLM, JSD

Whenever you plan for married clients, it is vital to know what property your clients own and what their spouses own. However, clients are often unclear about ownership and may be unsure whether an asset is owned individually or jointly by the spouses. Because two different marital systems are recognized in the United States, title alone does not always determine who truly owns the property. This article is designed to shed light on this key estate planning issue. 

Written by Phoebe Stone, JD, MA (Bioethics)

In the United States, an enormous amount of wealth is held in retirement assets. In fact, as of September 2025, more than $48 trillion is held in retirement accounts, and retirement assets account for more than one-third of all household financial assets. Given these statistics, trusts and estates practitioners and other professionals must be prepared to advise and assist their clients in planning for their retirement savings accounts.

Written by Michael T. Clear, JD, and Erin D. Nicholls, JD

Trustees occupy a pivotal role at the intersection of tax planning, wealth management, and family governance. Entrusted with the power to make distributions, oversee investments, and shape decisions that influence generations, trustees wield considerable influence. With such authority, however, comes the potential for problems: When a trustee becomes ineffective, conflicted, or unresponsive, the orderly administration of the trust suffers, and the potential for a dispute rises—sometimes resulting in protracted, costly litigation.