Rice & Rice

05/29/2026

This is one of those estate planning questions people do not ask until they suddenly should have.

Rice & Rice Attorneys says trust planning can provide protection for your spouse and children, and if a surviving spouse remarries, can help assure your estate passes to your children and not the new spouse.

That matters more than most families realize.

Had you ever thought about this scenario before? 👇

05/29/2026

A lot of people know they need an estate plan. Far fewer feel like they actually understand one.

That is why Rice & Rice Attorneys offers educational workshops in Valparaiso, Lafayette, and Granger, so families can learn how to craft their plan, understand family roles, and put that plan to work. These events help people learn the nuances of their plan and techniques to maximize its effectiveness. It also invites future clients to learn why more than 12,000 families have turned to Rice & Rice to custom-craft a plan that fits their needs.

If you have been meaning to get clarity before making decisions, this is a great place to start:

Estate planning workshops in Valparaiso, Lafayette, and Granger. Join over 12,000 Indiana families learning to build and protect their estate plan. Register today.

05/25/2026

On Memorial Day, we pause to remember the men and women who gave their lives in service to our country.

We honor their sacrifice, remember their families, and give thanks for the freedom their courage helped preserve.

From all of us at Rice & Rice Attorneys, we wish you a peaceful Memorial Day. 🇺🇸

05/22/2026

Congratulations to Gabrielle Tyler on her graduation from St. Mary’s law school! Gabrielle is the first in our next generation of estate planning attorneys at Rice & Rice. She is the beloved wife of our son, Ian Tyler, and mama to four of our grandsons.

Gabrielle graduated from St. Mary’s Law School in San Antonio. Tx. They were the first ABA-accredited online law program in 2022. 798 prospective applicants applied for admission, and Gabrielle was one of only 27 accepted.

She’s worked with the firm in multiple capacities over the last 20 years and brings with her a deep understanding of our values and client service philosophies. Gabrielle sits for the bar exam in July and will soon be in the office full-time to assist clients with their estate planning needs.

Please help us congratulate Gabrielle and welcome her to Rice & Rice in her new role as an attorney!

05/21/2026

What happens to your home is not just about who gets it. It is about how they get it.

A lot of families assume the house will “just go” to the right person. But the real issue is whether your loved ones have to go through probate court, deal with delays, lose privacy, or find out too late that a trust was never properly funded.

Our process explains and understands that probate is a public court process, and that a living trust can fully avoid probate for assets in the trust, help protect family privacy, and pass assets more quickly to loved ones. It must also be noted that planning can involve things like trust funding and Payable/Transferable on Death provisions depending on the situation.

That is why estate planning is not just about having documents. It is about making sure they actually work the way your family thinks they will.

Had you ever heard the term “trust funding” before this? 👇

05/20/2026

Many people have estate planning documents. Fewer people know whether those documents still fit their lives.

Our website notes that many people created a Will or estate plan years ago, perhaps when they started a family, and that now may be a good time to review those documents and revisit their current needs. The site also emphasizes that the firm offers free workshops, consultations, and ongoing education to help families protect themselves and provide for the people they love.

If it has been years since you looked at your plan, this is a good reminder to start there:

Contact our elder law and Estate Planning firm to learn more about how we can help you. We offer free workshops and consultations.

05/15/2026

One number gets a lot of people’s attention fast: $118,000 per year.

Our website highlights that nursing home costs now average over $118,000 annually and offers a free book, co-authored by Attorney Cliff Rice, on the financial and legal realities of Medicaid and long-term nursing home care.

If long-term care costs are something you have worried about, for yourself or for a parent, this is worth reading.

Learn more here:

Contact our elder law and Estate Planning firm to learn more about how we can help you. We offer free workshops and consultations.

05/14/2026

If you couldn’t manage your bank accounts tomorrow, would the right person be able to step in legally?

Rice & Rice explains that powers of attorney can be used for banking, real estate, and other financial or property matters, and that those powers can be tailored to your plan.

That is why planning is not just about having documents. It is about making sure the right person has the right authority when it matters most.

05/10/2026

A mother’s love leaves a legacy that lasts far beyond the moment.

Today, we honor the women whose love, strength, wisdom, and sacrifice have shaped their families in ways both seen and unseen.

From all of us at Rice & Rice, Happy Mother’s Day. 🌷

05/08/2026

Most people hear the word “trust” and assume it refers to a single document. It doesn’t.

Estate planning can include different kinds of trusts depending on your family, your goals, and what you are trying to protect. Rice & Rice discusses revocable living trusts, protective trusts, IRA preservation trusts, special needs trusts, pet trusts, Miller trusts, and more as part of a broader estate-planning strategy.

That is why good planning is not just about having a trust. It is about having the right plan.

05/07/2026

Most families do not realize there is more than one kind of trust.

A trust is not a one-size-fits-all document. Rice & Rice’s estate planning approach can include revocable living trusts, protective trusts, IRA preservation trusts, special needs trusts, pet trusts, Miller trusts, and more, depending on your needs.

The right estate plan is about more than paperwork. It is about protecting what matters and creating the legacy you want to leave.

Learn more:

Rice & Rice provides estate planning for clients in Valparaiso, Lafayette, Granger, and nearby Indiana areas. Call for a free consultation.