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As we approach the midpoint of 2024, it's a perfect time to reassess and update your estate plan. Life is constantly evolving, and it's essential to ensure your estate plan reflects those changes. Whether it's the birth of a child, a marriage, a divorce, or a change in financial circumstances, your estate plan should adapt to your current situation. Key Life Events to Consider Significant life events can have a substantial impact on your estate plan. Consider the following changes: Birth of a Child: Ensure your new family member is included in your will and consider guardianship arrangements. Marriage or Divorce: Update beneficiary designations and other legal documents to reflect your current relationship status. Change in Financial Circumstances: Adjust your plan to account for new assets or changes in your financial situation. Updating your estate plan will only take a few minutes of your time, but it can provide immense peace of mind by securing your future and protecting your loved ones. Take Action Now Many people hesitate when it comes to updating their estate plans. Don’t wait until it’s too late. Take action now by clicking here to answer a few questions and start the process. Investing a few moments today can make a significant difference in ensuring that your estate plan reflects your current wishes and provides for those you care about most. Reach out to Maitland & Stiffler Law Firm, PLLC, and let's schedule a brief call to discuss any updates or revisions needed for your estate plan. Secure your future by updating your estate plan with us today.

Selling your North Carolina home can be exciting. But while the process might seem relatively straightforward, it can be quite complex. This can leave you slightly on edge, especially once you realize that a mistake in the process can prove costly and could even derail the transaction altogether. This is especially true when issues pertaining to disclosure arise.

In the past, it was common for states to require a person seeking a divorce to present grounds for divorce — that is, to prove that their spouse did something wrong — particularly if the other spouse didn’t agree to the divorce. This system made it difficult to obtain a divorce, and trapped a lot of people in unhappy marriages.…

Over the past 25 years or so, judges, attorneys and others have noticed a growing trend of people who are getting divorced later in life. Some call this phenomenon “grey divorce,” and define it as any divorce involving people over age 50. However, many of these divorces involve people older than that. According to some sources, 10% of American divorces… The post Special considerations for a later-in-life divorce first appeared on Maitland & Stiffler Law Firm, PLLC.

In North Carolina, small business owners spend their lives trying to create an effective and successful entity. Those who create a profitable business undoubtedly want to see it continue after they are gone. This requires the business owner to have an estate plan as well as a plan of succession for the business to continue operating no matter the circumstances.… The post Leave your small business in good hands with succession planning first appeared on Maitland & Stiffler Law Firm, PLLC.

Creating an estate plan is an important decision for people in North Carolina. Most might try to go the simplest route and craft a will. In many instances, it is the wisest option. However, some people have different objectives and their financial and personal situation warrants a deeper dive into estate planning. A trust is an alternative that many would… The post Should I create a trust? first appeared on Maitland & Stiffler Law Firm, PLLC.

Buying a home in North Carolina is an exciting experience, but it can also feel overwhelming at times. There are many steps and paperwork involved in a real estate transaction. One of these steps involves a title search on the property that you are buying. This is a search done to make sure that there are no liens on the… The post What is a house lien and how can it affect a real estate deal? first appeared on Maitland & Stiffler Law Firm, PLLC.

A homebuyer might work closely with a realtor to find the property that is just right for them. Once they find their dream home, they are eager to move forward to closing. They already have been working with a realtor, so is it necessary to work with an attorney as well to close on a home? What is closing? Working… The post An attorney’s role in real estate closings in North Carolina first appeared on Maitland & Stiffler Law Firm, PLLC.