HOW LEGAL PLANNING HELPS BUILD A STRONG BLENDED FAMILY

Yours, mine and ours … in today’s modern family, it’s oh so common. The blended family is the product of 2nd (or more) marriages, in which one or more of the parties comes with children from a prior marriage. And then, they may even go on to have children together.  If you have or are […]

THE REAL COST OF CARING

Dealing with the financial stressors of caring for an aging loved one can affect your ability to provide them with the care and compassion they need. It can also put the security of your financial future at risk. To mitigate these concerns, consider these useful tips to help you make informed decisions about how to protect […]

2017 CLIENTS’ CHOICE AWARD

Varela Law is excited to announce that we’ve been awarded a Clients’ Choice Award by Avvo. Thank you to our amazing clients who entrusted us with their estate planning and refer their family and friends to us. We are grateful for the opportunity to serve families and help people protect everything they own and everyone they […]

WHAT IS A TRUST?

A trust is a legal creation set up to benefit someone or something. For example, some people set up trusts to benefit their children, their grandchildren, or even charities. It is easiest to understand if you think about three separate people being involved. One person, called the grantor, funds the trust somehow, by placing money or […]

PROTECTING YOUR NEWBORN FROM BIRTH

In the process of becoming new parents, many couples become experts at planning – scheduling the birthing classes, planning the new nursery, even picking out a preschool. There is so much to think about before you welcome your new child. Unfortunately, one of the most important things you can do to protect your child is […]

THE TALK YOU NEED TO HAVE WITH YOUR PARENTS

When you were a kid, your parents dreaded the talk they had to have with you. You know the one. Well, now that you are an adult, there’s a talk you need to have with your parents that is likely to be just as squirm-worthy – which is why so many of us put it […]

SPRING CLEANING FOR YOUR LEGAL AND FINANCIAL AFFAIRS

Spring has officially sprung and that means it’s spring cleaning time. Shake out the rugs, clean out the cupboards, and get your legal and financial affairs in order. For plenty of folks, it’s easy to know what to do when it comes to home organization, but the idea of legal and financial ordering can be complex and […]

IS YOUR FAMILY “TOO YOUNG” TO NEED AN ESTATE PLAN?

Young families face different estate planning needs and challenges than those who have had a long life behind them. While established families may be concerned about what will happen to their family when they pass on, young, growing families can be more focused on what is happening to their family in the present. And you […]

5 REASONS TO NEVER GIVE AN OUTRIGHT INHERITANCE TO YOUR CHILDREN – & WHAT TO DO INSTEAD!

If you’re like me, you want to leave an inheritance for your children.  It’s likely part of what you are working so hard to do. But, far too often, the way we leave those inheritances actually does more harm than good. Something no parent wants. Giving outright ownership of our assets to the kids could […]

PERMISSION TO LOVE YOUR CHILDREN

This is your letter of permission to go ahead and simply love your children. Put down those expectations that are ingrained in someone else’s idea of what it means to be successful in the world and stare a few moments longer into the precious eyes of the child who stands before you. Instead of asking […]