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Candles, Cake, and Clarity: Why Your Birthday is the Best Date for an Estate Plan Review

By Melinda Gustafson Gervasi
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Candles, Cake, and Clarity: Why Your Birthday is the Best Date for an Estate Plan Review By Melinda Gustafson Gervasi September 25, 2026 Over the years, Oprah Winfrey gave us countless lessons on how to live intentionally, but one of her most practical pieces of advice centered on self-care: using your birthday as a recurring reminder for critical annual health checks. She championed the idea of scheduling annual mammograms and wellness exams right around your birthday, framing it not as a chore, but as an empowering gift of health to yourself. Yesterday, I celebrated my own birthday—a day full of warm wishes, calls from loved ones, and, of course, cake. And as I reflected on another trip around the sun, Oprah’s ritual came to mind. It turns out that a birthday is not just the perfect trigger for a physical check-up; it is also the ideal annual date for a quick legal health audit. We are already conditioned to handle annual check-ups around recurring milestones: physicals, dental clean...
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Lessons from the Sidelines: What Cross Country Teaches Us About Estate Planning

By Melinda Gustafson Gervasi
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Lessons from the Sidelines: What Cross Country Teaches Us About Estate Planning By Melinda Gustafson Gervasi September 18, 2026 O'Dark Thirty -- the phrase we parents of High School Cross Country runners refer to when our alarms ring at 5am on a Saturday morning.  From late August through the end of October my weekends kickoff on the sidelines of meets where my teenagers are doing their best to PR (personal record) in a 5K race.  I stand on the sideline with a cowbell in hand (a custom among the Vel Philips Memorial High School Girls XC team) cheering as a sea of runners surges past into the woods. My message from the spectator line is always the same: Dig deep, keep your pace, and do not leave anything on the course. Standing out on those courses week after week offers a great reminder of how long-distance running mirrors life—and specifically, how we care for our legal plans. A common misconception about estate planning is that it’s a 100-meter sprint: you push hard, draft t...
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A Clear September Morning: Why We Plan for the Unthinkable

By Melinda Gustafson Gervasi
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A Clear September Morning: Why We Plan for the Unthinkable By Melinda Gustafson Gervasi September 11, 2026 Every year as September 11th approaches, my mind drifts back to that morning in Madison. It was what locals often call "Chamber of Commerce weather"—a crisp, brilliant blue sky, perfectly calm, the kind of autumn day where everything feels right with the world.  And then, in an instant, tragedy struck.  My grandmother said it shook her the same was as the bombing of Pearl Harbor.  I once called Washington, D.C. home for a three year period of time, and work assignments in the mid-1990s allowed me to spend substantial time in New York City. The news felt painfully close.  I knew people living in those cities, walking those streets, and event working at The Pentagon. September 11th taught all of us a heavy, irreversible truth: life can turn on a dime, without warning or room for preparation. As an estate planning attorney, I talk with clients every day about ...
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3 Beneficiary Form Mistakes That Can Sabotage Your Estate Plan

By Melinda Gustafson Gervasi
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3 Beneficiary Form Mistakes That Can Sabotage Your Estate Plan By Melinda Gustafson Gervasi September 4, 2026 It's early September -- trees begin to show their colors, kids are back in school, and football is back on TV.  It is also Life Insurance Awareness Month.  From my vantage point as an estate planning and probate attorney I see this as an ideal opportunity to revisit one of the most powerful, yet often misunderstood, tools in personal finance -- the beneficiary form for life insurance.  When people think about estate planning, they usually picture formal documents: a will, a Revocable Living Trust, or Powers of Attorney. But for many individuals and families, a significant portion of their wealth does not pass through a will at all. It passes directly through beneficiary designations on assets, life insurance in particular.  Because life insurance proceeds pass by contract directly to whoever is named on that single piece of paper (known as a beneficiary form)...
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Planning for the Whole Family: 5 Pet Estate Essentials for Rainbow Bridge Day

By Melinda Gustafson Gervasi
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Planning for the Whole Family: 5 Pet Estate Essentials for Rainbow Bridge Day By Melinda Gustafson Gervasi August 28, 2026 Today marks " Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day "—a quiet moment on the calendar dedicated to honoring the beloved companion animals who have shared our homes and hearts.  For many of us, our pets are not just animals; they are family members. And as our dogs, cats, and other companions age or navigate chronic illnesses, their daily care becomes more complex. We track medication schedules, cook specialized diets, and adjust our living spaces to keep them comfortable. While Rainbow Bridge Day is a time to look back with gratitude on those we’ve lost, it is also a meaningful reminder to look forward. If something were to happen to you tomorrow, who would manage your senior cat’s insulin injections or ensure your arthritic dog has their orthopedic bed? Here are 5 critical steps to address pet care in your estate plan—with a special focus on elderly or special-n...
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From Safe Harbors to Solid Ground: Why Your Estate Plan Should Be a Beacon

By Melinda Gustafson Gervasi
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From Safe Harbors to Solid Ground: Why Your Estate Plan Should Be a Beacon By Melinda Gustafson Gervasi August 21, 2026 When the newly formed United States Congress passed the Lighthouse Act on August 7, 1789, it was not just authorizing public infrastructure; it was providing a vital survival mechanism. Backed by President George Washington, the act ensured that dangerous coastlines were marked and that ships navigating treacherous waters had a constant, reliable point of reference. A lighthouse did not sit quietly in the dark waiting to be discovered—its entire purpose was to cut through the fog and project a steady beam, warning mariners of hidden rocks and guiding them safely into port long before a crisis hit. Too often, families treat their estate plans the exact opposite way. They spend time and money drafting complex wills, trusts, and healthcare directives, only to fold them up and bury them deep in a filing cabinet or a dusty desk drawer. Out of sight and out of mind, these d...
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August 14th: Today’s Estate Planning Post is Brought to You by the Number 14

By Melinda Gustafson Gervasi
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August 14th: Today’s Estate Planning Post is Brought to You by the Number 14 By Melinda Gustafson Gervasi August 14, 2026 If you grew up watching public television , you might remember a certain jazzy, animated train that used to chug along the tracks, enthusiastically counting all the way up to 14.  But today, on August 14th, we are not counting freight cars. We’re looking at your filing cabinet.  While the world has gone largely digital, there are still certain critical documents where a PDF on a laptop just won't cut it in an emergency. If your family ever needs to step in to handle your affairs or settle an estate, they will need the real deal. In honor of today's date, here are the 14 essential legal and financial documents you should print out, organize, and keep as hard copies in your home right now. Power of Attorney for Health Care and Power of Attorney for Finances; Authorization for Final Disposition (Wisconsin residents) or paperwork related to burial Deed for your...
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