James Tews, Attorney

06/17/2026

Updating your estate plan after purchasing a house ensures your new asset is properly aligned with your long-term goals.

If you've recently been through a major life milestone and would like to review your current estate plan, create one or make modifications, I am here to help.

06/17/2026

If you are getting closer to retirement, own a business and are thinking about the logistics of succession planning, reach out.

𝗦𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗼𝗹𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗿𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗻𝘀𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗵 𝗮𝘀:
- 𝘞𝘩𝘰 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴?
- 𝘞𝘩𝘰 𝘪𝘴 𝘲𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘪𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘰 𝘴𝘰?
- 𝘚𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘐 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘦𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘢 𝘭𝘶𝘮𝘱 𝘴𝘶𝘮 𝘣𝘶𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘰𝘳 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘥𝘪𝘤 𝘱𝘢𝘺𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴?
- 𝘞𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘐 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘺 𝘪𝘯𝘷𝘰𝘭𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦?
- 𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘷𝘰𝘭𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘥𝘰 𝘐 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦?

Contact me for help with your planning needs so you can safely plan for succession.

06/17/2026

Every year, Super Lawyers recognizes a distinguished group of Nebraska's top legal professionals. I am proud to be one of 17 lawyers from Koley Jessen to be on the 2026 list as well as 7 others from our firm recognized as Rising Stars.

Super Lawyers is a Thomson Reuters attorney rating service that recognizes attorneys who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. Each year, no more than 5% of attorneys in a state are selected as Super Lawyers, while approximately 2.5% are named Rising Stars.

See the list of our attorneys named to 2026 Super Lawyers and Rising Stars: https://www.koleyjessen.com/insights/news/super-lawyers-rising-stars-2026

06/17/2026

A new baby or adoption brings so much joy—and a whole new list of responsibilities. While reviewing your estate plan might not be the first thing on your mind during such an exciting milestone, it’s one of the most impactful ways to protect your growing family.

Updating your plan ensures you (but not limited to):

- Designate legal guardians so your child is always cared for by those you trust.
- Update beneficiaries to include your newest family member.
- Avoid unintended omissions and ensure your assets are distributed exactly how you intend.

Life changes fast. If you need to create a new estate plan, review an existing one, or make updates to reflect your family's newest milestone, I’m here to help.

06/04/2026

The greatest gift you can leave your loved ones isn't just what you own—it's a clear plan. An updated estate plan can help reduce uncertainty, minimize disputes, and ensure your wishes are carried out the way you intended.

06/04/2026

What can you do if you have been impacted by identity theft?

I helped a client whose son obtained their social security number, birth date, and other personal information and used that to open several credit card accounts and a cell phone in my client's name. The son did not pay any of the bills incurred while using my client's identity and by the time these accounts were discovered, severe damage had already occurred to their credit score.

My article for Country Lanes Magazine explores steps you can take, Nebraska’s Credit Report Protection Act and more.

05/25/2026

Wishing everyone a safe and meaningful Memorial Day as we remember and honor those who served and sacrificed.

05/21/2026

Welcome all of our 2026 Summer Associates at Koley Jessen. We're excited to have you with us.

It’s officially summer at Koley Jessen. ☀️ Yesterday, we welcomed 28 law students from 10 law schools across the country to launch our 2026 Summer Associate Program — our largest class to date.

We’re excited for all of the learning, collaboration, relationships, and fun the summer will bring. More importantly, we’re proud these students chose our firm as a place to develop their skills, gain meaningful experience, and begin shaping their early careers.

Over the next few months, this group will work alongside attorneys across our practice areas, build connections with one another, and continue discovering the kind of lawyers they hope to become. We’re excited to play a part in that journey.

Meet the Class of 2026: https://www.koleyjessen.com/insights/news/koley-jessen-welcomes-2026-summer-associates

05/15/2026

It's always a good time to think about whether your affairs are in good order including the state of your estate plan too. Typical documents prepared during the estate planning process can include a Will, Living Will, Trust, Power of Attorney and Death Taxes including 'Federal Estate Tax' and 'Nebraska Residence Tax'. Everyone has unique circumstances and I offer a customized approach for your estate planning needs. (402) 343-3873 or [email protected].

05/15/2026

Medicaid can help pay for medical, custodial or long-term care for people with limited income or resources but planning head is crucial. One of my areas of focus is Medicaid Planning. If you or someone you know needs assistance with their planning, I'm here to help.