Corina Colan, Attorney and Counselor at Law

06/15/2026

Taipei International Rotary Convention! Awesome place and awesome people!

06/05/2026

Tax season made you face your financial life, now don’t just close the folder. Ask the one question that actually matters and turn clarity into a plan. Read more: https://wix.to/qV8eX6I

Tax season just made you look at your financial life honestly. All of it.Tax season forced it. You gathered documents, tracked down account statements, reviewed what you own and what you owe. Right now, in April, you are more financially clear-headed than you will be at almost any other moment this....

05/29/2026

Blended families bring love and complex estate questions. If you plan to leave everything to your spouse, your children from prior relationships may not be protected. Learn common outcomes and how to plan to protect both your spouse and your kids. Read more: https://wix.to/GhfYRDl

If you are in a blended family, you may believe the simplest estate plan is the fairest one: "I'll leave everything to my spouse. They'll take care of my kids."That approach often works in a first and only marriage. If you and your spouse share the same biological or adopted children, the surviving....

05/29/2026

A heartbreaking Michigan case shows how custody, parental rights, and courts can collide when a parent dies unexpectedly. This article breaks down what can happen to a child caught in legal limbo and what every parent should do now to protect their child’s future. Read more: https://wix.to/R8rTteF

You probably assume that if something happened to you, the other parent would step in and everything would work itself out.In many families, that's true. But not always. Real life is messy. Parents separate. Relationships become contentious. Custody disputes drag on for years. And when a tragedy occ...

05/29/2026

New blog: Anne Heche Died in 2022. Her Family Is Still Paying for It, a close look at how settling an estate can drag on and cost loved ones long after a death. Read the story and learn what families should know to avoid the same pitfalls. https://wix.to/cEXKoOI

After you're gone, your family won't just be grieving. They'll be making phone calls, hunting down accounts, and navigating a legal process that no one told them about.That's the part that can quietly drag on for years, no matter how much or how little you have. And a story that's been playing out i...

05/01/2026

Creating a trust in your will and creating a living trust are both called “trusts”, but they act very differently and have very different consequences for your loved ones. In Part 1 of our guide, attorney Corina Colan breaks down the key differences, what probate means for your family, and when a living trust may be the better choice. Read more: https://wix.to/K8orQGa

Have questions after reading? Drop them in the comments or message us to schedule a consultation.

You've probably heard that trusts help families avoid probate court and protect assets for the people you love. Maybe you've even talked to a lawyer who mentioned including a trust in your will. It sounds like a good solution, but here's what most people don't realize: a trust created in your will w...

05/01/2026

Creating a trust in your will vs. creating a living trust, the difference matters for your family. In Part 1 of our new series, estate planning attorney Corina Colan breaks down how each option affects probate, timing, and control so you can make an informed choice. Read more: https://wix.to/zcHpaYu

You've probably heard that trusts help families avoid probate court and protect assets for the people you love. Maybe you've even talked to a lawyer who mentioned including a trust in your will. It sounds like a good solution, but here's what most people don't realize: a trust created in your will w...

04/24/2026

Think a quick glance will tell you if an estate plan is solid? Think again. Estate plans often hide state-specific rules, outdated provisions, and subtle drafting issues that require a careful review. Read our latest post to learn why a simple “quick look” rarely gives the certainty people expect and when a full review is necessary. https://wix.to/H1iH7iV

When someone calls an estate planning attorney asking for a "quick look" at their documents, the request usually sounds straightforward. Maybe the documents were created using an online service, and they want to “just be sure” the documents are sound. Perhaps there's been a move to a new state a...

04/21/2026

Will your beneficiaries owe taxes when you pass assets on to them? Our latest blog breaks down inheritance taxes, how different asset types are treated, and practical steps to reduce the burden on loved ones. Read more: https://wix.to/pRpXLmV

Key topics: taxable vs. non-taxable inheritances, retirement accounts, property, and state rules. Share with someone who’s planning their estate.

When planning for your death, there’s one issue you may not have thought about, but is so important to your beneficiaries: will your loved ones have to pay taxes on what you leave them? The answer isn't straightforward because it depends largely on the types of assets you're passing down, how much...

04/11/2026

Who pays your debts when you die? It depends on the type of debt, how assets are titled, and whether anyone co-signed. Learn how to protect your loved ones and make smarter estate-planning decisions in our latest blog: What Happens to Your Debt When You Die? Read more: https://wix.to/0Vsc7jA

It's a question I hear often: if I die with debt, will my family be stuck paying it off? The short answer is it depends on several factors, including the type of debt you have, how your assets are titled, and whether anyone co-signed on your obligations. Understanding how debt works after death can....