MEREDITH PC

𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞, 𝐋𝐨𝐬𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐋𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐜𝐲:𝐇𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐁𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐀𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡 𝐨𝐟 𝐚 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐎𝐧𝐞

Personal items accumulated over our lifetimes may be left in estate planning limbo when we pass away. You may have kept many personal effects and everyday items more for sentimental reasons than for financial value, such as your clothing, jewelry, books, quilts, collectibles, and religious items.

Each item we leave behind tells part of the story of who we were and what we valued, a subtle sign of meaning that, after we pass, serves as a powerful reminder of person, place, and purpose.

While your estate plan may describe in detail who will receive big-ticket items, your loved ones may argue over small nostalgic items that you unintentionally omitted. To prevent family strife and forestall bickering among your loved ones, you also need to think in a big-picture way about the little things in your estate.

https://meredithpc.com/20260204-2/

𝐄𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐋𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐚𝐠𝐞: 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐖𝐡𝐨 𝐃𝐞𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐧 𝐘𝐨𝐮

We all have different ways of giving and receiving love, and those preferences can reveal a great deal about us.

You may be the type who expresses love with words, telling people you care about them or crafting carefully worded messages for someone when they need encouragement. Or maybe you prefer physical affection such as hugging and holding hands to show how you feel. Others express love through gifts: flowers, perfectly chosen birthday presents, or a surprise spa day. For many, love dwells in shared moments or in quiet, selfless acts that make someone else’s life easier.

How we express our love for others and how we prefer to have love shown to us is known as our love language, a term popularized in a self-help book from the 1990s. We may speak one love language when we give love and another when we receive it. Depending on our personality, our expressions of love can be far-reaching and obvious or small and subtle.

Estate planning is a love language all of its own that can communicate care not only through gifts of money and property but also through the act of planning for what will eventually happen to us. It is a way of showing love to the people who depend on us by creating clarity and support so that they are not left guessing or scrambling when we are no longer here.

https://meredithpc.com/20260203-2/

𝐄𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐢𝐩𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐒𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐌𝐚𝐣𝐨𝐫 𝐒𝐮𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐲

Receiving news that you need major surgery is never easy. Preparing for work absences, planning for childcare and household responsibilities, and understanding the procedure itself and your recovery timeline may be among the things you are worried about. If you have only a short time (weeks or days) to react, focusing on the essentials is key. Reviewing your estate plan is among those crucial to-do items. Make the best use of your time by considering the following urgent steps.

https://meredithpc.com/20260202-2/

𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧 𝐈𝐧𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐄𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧

Receiving an inheritance can be a meaningful and transformative experience, but it can also create challenges if not handled thoughtfully. Without a clear plan, an inheritor may struggle to manage newly acquired assets, face creditor or tax issues, or lack the financial experience needed to preserve and grow what was left to them. A well-designed estate plan can help anticipate and mitigate these risks by providing structure, guidance, and protection around inherited wealth. If you have received—or expect to receive—an inheritance, it is essential to create a comprehensive estate plan or update your existing plan to reflect your new circumstances and long-term goals.

https://meredithpc.com/20260105-2/