Elizabeth Strane, Attorney at Law, PLLC

07/08/2026

“My trust was set up years ago. Does the new tax law affect it?”

Most families with trusts are asking this question right now. Here is what advisors are finding.

The One Big Beautiful Bill included a deduction limitation originally aimed at high-income individuals. Tax lawyers and accountants discovered it applies to trusts and estates as well, and trusts hit the top income bracket far earlier than any individual does. In 2026, the 37 percent rate kicks in for a trust at approximately $16,000 in taxable income. For a single individual, that threshold is $640,600.

A modest family trust generating $16,000 in income may now face the same limitation designed for the country’s highest earners. If your trust distributes income to a surviving spouse, a child with a disability, or any beneficiary who depends on those distributions, this week’s article explains what that means for your specific situation.

The link is in my bio🤍

07/03/2026

Happy Independence Day from our office!

I am so proud to be an American lawyer and grateful for the privilege of practicing under our nation’s laws. I remember being inspired in my Constitutional Law class by a particular quote by Supreme Court Justice Brandeis in one of his concurring opinions:

“Those who won our independence believed that the final end of the State was to make men free to develop their faculties… They believed liberty to be the secret of happiness and courage to be the secret of liberty.”

Have a wonderful and safe weekend celebrating our country’s 250th!💙🤍

06/25/2026

A reminder to join me on June 30 at 12:00 PM CST for a Live Free Estate Planning Webinar!

We’ll cover asset protection, planning for minor children, keeping your estate out of court and more. Stay for a live Q&A at the end!

Register with the link here or through the link in my bio🤍

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/free-estate-planning-webinar-tickets-1991480426565?aff=oddtdtcreator

06/23/2026

Since we celebrated Father’s Day this last weekend, this post felt perfect for this week. However, this legal concept applies to stepmoms as well. Step parents can do so much good for their step kids. As someone with an amazing step mom, I know this to be true!

Most parents have had the conversation. They’ve made an agreement with a sibling, a parent, or a close friend. It feels settled and done.

Under the law, a stepparent has no automatic legal relationship to a stepchild. That means if something happens to you, your estate doesn’t automatically reach them. If something happens to their parent, you have no automatic right to step in as guardian. And in an emergency, without specific documents in place, you may have no authority to make medical decisions for the children you have been raising.

The gap between the family you live in and the family the law recognizes is exactly what this week’s article is about.

Link is in my bio.🤍

06/19/2026

Had a wonderful time today speaking to the lovely residents at Auburn Assisted Living about estate planning!

06/19/2026

06/16/2026

06/15/2026

This post is a little extra near and dear to me!

I fully intended to post about this last week, but so ironically, our little golden girl, Emmy, had to take an emergency vet visit Thursday night. She’s doing much better and back to playing in the yard, but it reminded me of how much our pets mean to us🤍

If you die without a plan for your pet, they could end up in a shelter or someone who can’t properly care for them. Unfortunately, this is too common.

The reason is that many people assume family will automatically take their pets, but that’s not always possible. Assuming, unfortunately, isn’t planning. Family members might live far away, have allergies, or face housing restrictions. Even if they want to help, they might not know your pet’s specific needs or routines.

The good news is you can prevent this by including your pet in your Life and Legacy Plan. This means choosing specific caregivers, providing detailed care instructions, and ensuring there’s financial support for your pet’s needs.

If you’re curious about protecting every member of your family—including the four-legged ones, schedule a free 15-minute call with me using the link in my bio🤍

06/08/2026

Our firm had a ribbon cutting at our office!🎀

It was an honor to join so many other wonderful businesses and attorneys here in the Auburn area serving this community! My heart is to provide estate planning for clients that makes them feel secure and even more excited about life. And to be an attorney that clients trust throughout their lifetime, not just for a one-time transaction.

Thank you to everyone who came out to support this moment for the firm🤍 It meant so much to me.

📍570 Devall Drive, Suite 303, Auburn, AL 36832

And thank you to the ladies at the Auburn Chamber ()! These women truly love small businesses and work really hard to be a resource to business owners in the area. We’re so lucky to have them!