Valentine’s Day is a reminder to reflect on the people who matter most in our lives. It is also an appropriate time to consider whether you have taken the necessary legal steps to protect them. Estate planning is one of the most practical ways to ensure your loved ones are cared for, both during your lifetime and after your passing.

Estate planning can feel complex, but getting answers to common questions can give you clarity and peace of mind. Here are ten questions we hear most often:

The holidays are a time for gratitude, reflection, and family gatherings. Between the laughter, shared meals, and festive traditions, there is also a natural opportunity to discuss one of the most important gifts you can give your loved ones: clarity about your estate plans and family finances.

Halloween is a time for costumes, candy, and a few spooky surprises. Unfortunately, the real scares are not in haunted houses, they can be hiding in outdated estate planning documents. Outdated documents can create confusion, delays, stress and conflict for your loved ones.

Every October, Estate Planning Awareness Month serves as an important reminder of something many people put off—making a clear plan for the future. While estate planning may feel overwhelming or like something to deal with “later,” it is one of the most valuable steps you can take to protect yourself, your family, and your legacy.

September 7, 2025, was National Grandparents Day, time to honor the wisdom, love, and legacy of the grandparents in our lives. Beyond sharing stories, traditions, and family recipes, many grandparents also want to leave a lasting financial legacy for their children and grandchildren. 

But without proper planning, that legacy can easily become tied up in probate—the court process required to settle an estate. Probate often means delays, added costs, and, unfortunately, family stress at an already difficult time.

Losing someone, even when their estate is modest, brings emotional weight, and managing the legalities does not help. The good news? Colorado’s Small Estate Affidavit offers a faster, less costly, and less formal way to settle smaller estates under state rules.

Backpacks are packed, lunchboxes are labeled, and the school year is officially underway! While your kids are focused on spelling tests and soccer practice, this season is also the perfect time for parents (and grandparents) to do a little “homework” of their own—reviewing their estate plan.

AI and do-it-yourself estate planning tools are growing in popularity, offering quick and inexpensive solutions for wills and trusts. But what many people do not realize is that these tools often create more problems than they solve—especially when it comes to probate.

 At Independence Legal Group, we are seeing more families end up in expensive and time-consuming probate court because of online wills, AI-generated documents, or incomplete DIY plans.

On July 4, 2025, President Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) into law, bringing with it exciting updates for families, business owners, and individuals across the country—especially those focused on estate planning.

The bill makes a significant and permanent increase to the federal estate, gift, and generation-skipping transfer (GST) tax exemptions, creating new planning opportunities that can bring peace of mind and long-term savings for families here in Colorado.

When my siblings and I gathered at Dad’s house after his funeral, we expected to feel a lot of things—grief, sadness, nostalgia. We did not expect to feel lost. There was no will. No list of accounts. No plan. Just a box of old paperwork, a few keys we could not match to anything, and a house filled with memories and unanswered questions. That was the moment we found ourselves asking the same question over and over again:

“Why didn’t Dad tell us?”

When people think about estate planning, they often imagine complicated legal documents or drawn-out court processes. But one of the easiest and most effective ways to keep assets out of probate is often overlooked: beneficiary designations.

Summer is right around the corner — and with it often comes a natural slowdown for many businesses. Clients take vacations, employees request time off, and decision-making timelines stretch out. But summer does not have to mean lost momentum. With smart planning, you can use the season to strengthen your business for the busy months ahead.

Graduation season is here — a time of pride, celebration, and looking ahead. As young adults step into their futures, there is an important milestone many families overlook: estate planning.

In today’s fast-paced business world, maintaining well-organized, accurate, and up-to-date documents is essential for success, growth, and security. Here are key reasons why you should prioritize document management: