BERYS LAW | Business, Real Estate, Wills/Trusts

Starting a new year always brings a sense of possibility, and one of the smartest ways to set yourself up for stability is by getting your estate plan in order. It’s not just for the wealthy or older adults—anyone with assets, responsibilities, or people who rely on them benefits from a clear, well-built plan. Here’s a practical checklist to help you walk into 2026 feeling ready, protected, and organized.

Review and Update Your Will

If it’s been more than a year since you last looked at your will, now’s a great time to revisit it. Life moves fast—maybe you bought property, welcomed a child, or made major career changes. Your will should reflect what your life looks like today, not three years ago. Make sure your beneficiaries, executors, and instructions still match your goals.

Read more: Things to Consider When Updating Your Estate Plan

Revisit Your Beneficiary Designations

Some of your most important assets—like life insurance policies, retirement accounts, and bank accounts—use...

Thinking about the future isn’t always comfortable, especially when it involves preparing for the “what ifs.” But if you have children—especially young ones—estate planning is one of the most meaningful gifts you can give them. It’s not just about money or property. It’s about making sure they’re protected, supported, and set up for stability no matter what life brings.

Here are the key pieces every parent should have in place.

1. Choose the Right Guardians

If your children are minors, naming a guardian is one of the most important decisions you’ll make. This person will be responsible for raising your kids if you’re no longer able to. Think about who shares your values, parenting style, and long-term stability. It’s also a good idea to name an alternate guardian in case your first choice can’t serve. And remember: talk to the person you’re choosing. Nobody wants a surprise responsibility of this magnitude.

Read more: What Is Guardianship Planning? - A Comprehensive Guide to Protec...

Estate planning used to be mostly about physical property—your home, your car, your bank accounts, and the family heirlooms you want to pass down. But today, a large part of your life lives online. From social media accounts to cloud storage, cryptocurrency to online banking, your digital footprint is bigger than you may realize. When those assets are left out of an estate plan, it can create unnecessary stress, delays, and confusion for the people handling your affairs.

Digital assets aren’t always obvious to your family

Most people assume their loved ones will simply “figure it out,” but digital assets often have no physical trail. There’s no paper statement, no safe deposit box, and no stack of documents in a filing cabinet. Without clear instructions, your executor may not even know certain accounts exist. This becomes a major problem if those accounts hold value—like crypto wallets, investment apps, or digital payment platforms.

Even non-financial assets matter. Email accounts,...

Planning for what happens after you're gone isn’t exactly anyone’s idea of a fun weekend project, which is why DIY wills can look tempting. They seem quick, cheap, and straightforward—until they’re not. Estate planning attorneys see the fallout from these homemade documents all the time, and the pattern is surprisingly consistent: small mistakes turn into big problems. If you’re thinking about writing your own will, here’s what experts say you should know before you grab a template and fill in the blanks.

The language has to be exact—guesswork isn’t an option

A will is a legal document, and the law doesn’t leave much room for “close enough.” Online templates assume every family looks the same and every situation is simple. In reality, the wording has to be very specific. A single unclear sentence can lead to a court battle or assets going to the wrong person. Estate attorneys spend years learning how to draft language that holds up under scrutiny because judges interpret wills litera...

When a veteran passes away, they leave behind more than memories of service and sacrifice—they leave a legacy. One of the most meaningful ways to honor that legacy is by ensuring their loved ones receive the support and benefits they’ve earned. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) offers several programs designed to help surviving spouses, children, and dependents achieve financial stability and access essential services during a difficult time.

Financial Support for Families

The most recognized form of support is the Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC). This tax-free monthly payment is available to surviving spouses, children, or parents of service members who died in the line of duty or from a service-related condition. It can help offset the loss of income and provide ongoing financial security for families adjusting to life after loss.

Additionally, surviving family members may be eligible for Survivors Pension, a needs-based benefit for low-income, unremarried s...

Estate planning is often focused on wills, trusts, and asset distribution. But one crucial area that’s frequently forgotten involves your medical privacy—the rules set by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, or HIPAA. If your estate plan doesn’t address HIPAA regulations properly, your loved ones could face unnecessary stress and confusion when making healthcare decisions on your behalf.

Why HIPAA Matters in Estate Planning

HIPAA was designed to protect your private health information from being shared without your consent. While that’s good for privacy, it can create complications when family members or agents need access to your medical records during an emergency or while managing your healthcare decisions.

Let’s say you’re incapacitated, and your healthcare agent needs to make decisions about your treatment. Without proper HIPAA authorization, doctors and hospitals might refuse to share medical details—even with your spouse or adult children. This lack of acc...

Being part of the “sandwich generation” means living between two sets of responsibilities: caring for aging parents while also supporting children, whether they’re still at home or starting their own adult lives. It’s a role full of emotional and financial challenges. Add estate planning into the mix, and it can feel overwhelming. But with the right strategies, you can care for your loved ones today while building a lasting legacy for tomorrow.

Acknowledge the Dual Role

The first step is recognizing the unique position you’re in. Unlike previous generations who may have only supported one side of the family at a time, today’s middle-aged adults often juggle medical bills for parents, tuition costs for kids, and their own retirement planning. Estate strategies need to reflect these layered obligations. That means looking beyond just “who inherits what” and focusing on long-term financial security.

Start With a Solid Foundation

Begin by ensuring you have core documents in place: a wi...

Keeping inheritances private matters to many families — whether to protect beneficiaries from unwanted attention, prevent opportunistic claims, or simply spare loved ones a media spectacle. Privacy won’t happen by accident; it takes careful planning and the right legal tools. Here’s a clear, practical guide to keeping inheritances out of the public eye.

Start with a trust, not just a will

Wills become public during probate in most jurisdictions. A revocable living trust (or other appropriate trust type) transfers assets outside probate, so the details don’t enter the public record. Trusts also allow you to set conditions, stagger distributions, and name a private trustee to manage communications. Work with an estate attorney to choose the trust structure that fits your goals.

Read more: What Is the Difference Between a Will and a Trust?

Use beneficiary designations and joint ownership smartly

Accounts like IRAs, 401(k)s, life insurance policies, and payable-on-death bank accounts ...

Estate planning has traditionally focused on tangible property like homes, vehicles, and financial accounts. However, in today’s digital age, much of our personal and financial lives are managed online. From social media to cryptocurrency, digital assets are now an essential part of estate planning. Recognizing what qualifies as a digital asset and ensuring they are included in your estate plan can save your loved ones unnecessary confusion and protect your legacy.

Defining Digital Assets

Digital assets include any electronic record, file, or account that holds personal, sentimental, or monetary value. These assets can range from financial holdings to personal online content. Importantly, they are often protected by unique usernames, passwords, and terms of service agreements, making access difficult for family members if not properly planned for in advance.

Common Types of Digital Assets

Financial Accounts – Online banking, PayPal, Venmo, investment platforms, and cryptocurrency w...

Military service members and their families face unique challenges when it comes to estate planning. Frequent relocations, overseas deployments, and the inherent risks of service require a proactive approach to protecting assets, providing for loved ones, and ensuring legal affairs are in order. Whether you’re active duty, in the reserves, or retired, these tips will help you build a solid military estate plan.

1. Start Early—Don’t Wait for Deployment

One of the most common mistakes service members make is delaying estate planning until just before deployment. Life in the military is unpredictable, and emergencies can happen at any time. Start your estate plan as soon as possible so your loved ones are protected no matter what.

2. Draft a Comprehensive Will

A will outlines how your assets will be distributed and who will care for your minor children if something happens to you. Without one, state laws will decide for you—which may not align with your wishes. Include instructions fo...