The Cosby Show Made Him Famous. His Estate Plan Failed His Family. Here’s What I Would Have Done.

Posted on October 15, 2026

When I first heard about Tenisha Warner’s lawsuit, my attention was not on the celebrity angle.

Friends Don't Let Friends Go Without an Estate Plan

Posted on October 08, 2026

There is a phrase many of us remember from years ago: “Friends don’t let friends drive drunk.”
It was simple, direct, and effective because it turned a difficult conversation into an act of care rather than judgment.

Make-A-Will Month Is Here at Phoenix Law. But a Will Isn't a Plan.

Posted on October 01, 2026

A family once called me after losing their mother.
She had a will. It was properly signed and legally valid.
But it did not explain who had legal authority to care for the children during the first 72 hours. It did not address who could keep paying the mortgage while accounts were tied up in probate. And it did not explain how she actually wanted her children to be raised.

Why You Don’t Want an Initial Consultation, But a Life & Legacy Planning® Session Instead

Posted on September 24, 2026

One reason estate plans fail is because they often begin with a transactional initial consultation. A Life & Legacy Planning Session takes a different approach, turning estate planning into a process built around clarity, meaningful decisions, and long term value for you and the people you love.

Why Reviewing Your Trust Regularly Isn't Optional—It's Essential

Posted on September 17, 2026

Creating a trust is an important step in protecting your family, keeping loved ones out of court and conflict, and making sure your wishes are carried out. But creating the trust is only the beginning.

Why It Matters to Your Loved Ones That You Work With the Right Lawyer

Posted on September 10, 2026

When someone you love dies, grief is already difficult enough. Now imagine adding confusing paperwork, legal problems, financial stress, and no one who knows your family well enough to guide you through any of it.

Why Estate Documents Fail: The Hidden Truth About Traditional Estate Planning

Posted on September 03, 2026

You hired a lawyer, signed your estate planning documents, and stored them somewhere safe. Maybe your financial advisor prepared them for you, or perhaps you created them yourself online or with the help of AI.

Why Business Owners Deserve More Than an Easy or Cheap Estate Plan

Posted on August 27, 2026

When you own a business, a quick or low cost estate plan can leave that business exposed. Your business documents and personal estate plan must work together, and when they do not, the consequences can be serious for both your company and the people you love.

The Life-or-Death Decisions Your Family Shouldn’t Have to Make Alone

Posted on August 20, 2026

Organ donation can save lives, but a recent investigation showed how unclear planning and rushed decisions can lead to devastating mistakes.

The Hidden Risks of Growing Older Without a Life & Legacy Plan

Posted on August 13, 2026

More adults are growing older alone, and even when family members live nearby, aging can bring challenges that few people anticipate. A Life & Legacy Plan helps ensure that you receive care with dignity, your wishes remain respected, and the people you love know exactly what to do.

The Cost of a Cheap Plan: Why “Bargain” Estate Planning Often Costs the Most

Posted on August 06, 2026

Like buying a cheap car, bargain estate planning can leave your loved ones stranded when they need help most. That is why a comprehensive Life & Legacy Plan is often worth far more than the lower price of a basic set of documents.

Nobody Prepared Me for This! The Reality of Managing Inherited Real Estate

Posted on July 30, 2026

You have just lost someone important to you, and now you are responsible for their home. Maybe the property is sitting empty while you decide what comes next.

10 Guardian Mistakes That Could Put Your Kids at Risk (And How to Do It Right)

Posted on July 23, 2026

Imagine something unexpected happens and you are suddenly unable to care for your children. That is every parent’s worst fear.

Why Quick and Simple Estate Plan Reviews Don’t Exist

Posted on July 16, 2026

If your estate plan is several years old, or if you created it yourself, you may be tempted to call an attorney and ask for a quick, low cost review of your documents.

Understanding Inheritance Taxes: What You and Your Beneficiaries Need to Know

Posted on July 09, 2026

When planning for your death, there is one issue that may not be top of mind, but matters greatly to the people you love: will your beneficiaries have to pay taxes on what you leave behind?

Creating a Trust in Your Will vs. Creating a Living Trust: Part 2

Posted on July 02, 2026

A living trust can provide immediate protection and help your family avoid probate, but understanding how it works and whether it fits your goals is essential if you want to make the right choice.

Creating a Trust in Your Will vs. Creating a Living Trust: Part 1

Posted on June 25, 2026

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.

One Death, One Courtroom, One Child, and a Lesson Every Parent Needs to HearShape

Posted on June 18, 2026

You may assume that if something happened to you, the other parent would step in and everything would simply work itself out.

Here’s What Can Happen to Blended Families When a Spouse Dies

Posted on June 11, 2026

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."

Here’s What Happens to Your Retirement Accounts After You Die

Posted on June 04, 2026

Retirement accounts such as 401(k)s and IRAs are often one of the largest sources of wealth a family owns. Recent data shows that these accounts together hold roughly $21 trillion, and for many households they make up more than 34% of total assets, sometimes even more than home equity.

Estate Planning for Unmarried Couples: Protecting the Person You Love

Posted on May 28, 2026

You and your partner have built a real life together. Maybe you share a home, divide the bills, and have been each other’s first call for years. In every meaningful way, you are family.

Anne Heche Died in 2022. Her Family Is Still Paying for It.

Posted on May 21, 2026

When you die without a solid plan, you do not just leave behind grief. You may also leave behind years of court filings, creditor claims, and paperwork that can drain what you worked hard to build and place that burden on a young adult who may have no idea where to begin. That is exactly what happened to Anne Heche’s family.

Tax Season Made You Review Everything. Now Ask the One Question That Really Counts.

Posted on May 14, 2026

Tax season gave you a close look at your financial life. Every part of it. You gathered documents, pulled account statements, reviewed what you own, and took stock of what you owe. In April, most people are more financially aware than they will be at any other point during the year.

How to Talk to Your Loved Ones About Death, Money, and Estate Planning at the Holidays | Arkansas Estate Planning Attorney

Posted on November 24, 2025

The holidays bring family, warmth, gratitude—and a rare chance to have the meaningful conversations most people avoid. As an Arkansas estate planning attorney at Phoenix Law, I’ve seen how avoiding discussions about death, money, wills, and estate planning in Arkansas results in confusion, conflict, and financial loss for families. This season, you have the chance to give one of the most important gifts of all: clarity and protection for the people you love.

What to Do When You’re Ready to Create Your Estate Plan but Your Spouse Isn’t

Posted on November 20, 2025

If you’re ready to start your estate plan but your spouse is hesitant, you’re not alone. At Phoenix Law in Sherwood, Arkansas, we help individuals and couples navigate these challenges with clarity and confidence. This article explains why spouses may resist estate planning, how to approach the conversation with compassion, and what steps you can take today to protect your family’s future.

10 Guardian Mistakes That Could Put Your Kids at Risk (And How to Do It Right)

Posted on April 21, 2025

Imagine this: something unexpected happens, and you're suddenly unable to care for your children. It's a parent's worst nightmare. In this situation, you'd want to know that your kids will be loved, cared for, and raised according to the values you hold dear.

The $700 Million Mistake: Why an Asset Inventory Is an Essential Part of Your Estate Plan

Posted on April 14, 2025

Imagine accidentally throwing away $700 million. While it sounds like the plot of a movie, this nightmare scenario has become a reality for James Howells, a computer engineer from Wales, who has now spent more than a decade fighting to recover a discarded hard drive containing the private key to his Bitcoin fortune.

Gene Hackman's Estate: A Wake-Up Call

Posted on April 7, 2025

The recent passing of legendary actor Gene Hackman has revealed a complicated estate situation that serves as a powerful warning for everyone - married couples especially - regardless of your net worth.

Whether you have significant assets or just want to ensure your wishes are honored during your lifetime and you don’t leave a mess of open loops, creditors, and pain for your loved ones, getting your estate plan done right so it doesn’t fail when the people you love need it is the answer.

Why Reviewing Your Estate Plan Regularly Isn't Optional—It's Essential

Posted on March 31, 2025

You've taken the important step of creating an estate plan, and it includes a trust—congratulations! This shows you care deeply about keeping your family out of court and conflict, ensuring your wishes are known and honored, and you do not want to leave behind a mess for the people you love. Great work.

But here's something you may not realize: an estate plan, a will, or a trust isn't a "set it and forget it" type of thing. Your estate plan is a living set of documents and tools that need regular attention to ensure they work when your loved ones need them and that they don’t fail at the worst possible moment.

Beyond the FDIC Safety Net: Protecting Your Cash When Your Savings Exceed Insurance Limits

Posted on March 24, 2025

Imagine this: You've spent decades carefully saving money, building a comfortable nest egg that represents years of hard work and discipline. One morning, you're sipping coffee and browsing the news when headlines about a bank failure catch your eye. Your stomach drops as you realize a significant portion of your savings could be at risk because you’ve got an account in cash that exceeds the FDIC insurance limits.

Til Death Do Us Part? Why Unmarried Couples Must Have An Estate Plan That Works For the People They Love

Posted on March 17, 2025

Love in the 21st century takes many forms, and for a growing number of couples, "forever" doesn't always include a marriage license. While a deeply personal choice, being unmarried adds layers of legal and financial complexity that can't be ignored, especially when it comes to protecting your assets and loved ones.

Planning a Trip? Protect Your Children with a Kids Protection PlanⓇ

Posted on March 10, 2025

As Spring Break approaches, followed by summer, you're likely focused on planning the perfect getaway with your children - booking flights, reserving hotels, and mapping out exciting activities. But there's one crucial aspect of travel planning that often gets overlooked: ensuring your children's safety and care if something unexpected happens to you during your trip. While no one wants to think about emergencies during vacation, having proper protection in place lets you truly relax and enjoy making memories together.

Estate Planning Pitfalls - 3 Mistakes That Could Make Your Estate Plan Worthless

Posted on March 3, 2025

Including a Trust as part of your estate plan is a smart decision. It allows you to avoid probate, maintain privacy, and distribute your assets to your loved ones while also providing them with a lifetime of asset protection, if you choose it for them. But, here’s the thing you might not know, and is critically important to remember: simply creating a Trust is not enough. For your Trust to work, it has to be funded properly and may need to be updated over time.

Estate Planning During Divorce: Lessons from Shannen Doherty's Legacy

Posted on February 24, 2025

The July 2024 passing of beloved Gen X actress Shannen Doherty offers important lessons about estate planning during divorce. Known for her iconic roles in "Beverly Hills, 90210," “Heathers” and "Charmed," Doherty not only faced a courageous and public battle with breast cancer but also raced against time to finalize her divorce and protect her estate. Her story shows why proper timing and planning are crucial when navigating divorce - one of life's most challenging transitions.

The Unexpected Challenges of Being an Estate Executor

Posted on February 17, 2025

When someone asks you to be the executor of their estate, it might seem like a straightforward responsibility - distribute assets according to their will and handle some paperwork. However, as many executors discover, the role involves far more complexity, time, and emotional labor than expected. Understanding these challenges now can help you better prepare, whether you're creating your estate plan or considering serving as an estate executor.