Advice from a Davidson, NC Estate Planning Attorney In today’s digital world, your estate isn’t just made up of homes, cars, bank accounts, and family heirlooms—it includes a whole range of digital assets. If you didn’t consider these when you first created your will or trust, don’t worry—you’re far from alone. The good news? Updating your estate plan to account for digital assets is easier than you might think. Whether you’re a small [...]

Insights from an Estate Planning Attorney in Davidson, NC If you’re part of the sandwich generation (caring for your kids and your parents at the same time) you’ve got a lot on your plate. Between juggling work, family, and everything in between, the idea of sitting down with your parents to talk about estate planning might not sound fun. But here’s the truth: having that conversation is one of the most important—and loving—things [...]

Love today doesn’t always come with a marriage certificate and that’s perfectly okay. But if you’re in a long-term relationship and not legally married, it’s crucial to understand how that affects your financial and legal protection. Without the legal safeguards that marriage provides, unmarried partners face unique challenges when it comes to estate planning, medical decision-making, and inheritance rights. The good news? With a solid plan in place, you can make sure your [...]

If you’re a business owner, you’ve probably seen the ads: “Create your estate plan online in 30 minutes!” Or maybe your financial advisor has offered to throw in some basic estate documents as part of your financial plan. Easy, fast, and inexpensive — sounds tempting, right? The problem is that if you own a business, these cookie-cutter solutions can do more harm than good. What’s often missing is the critical link between your [...]

When it comes to estate planning, misinformation is everywhere. From social media snippets to coffee shop conversations, it’s easy to hear something that sounds right but isn’t. Unfortunately, believing these myths can leave your family vulnerable to unnecessary taxes, legal headaches, or even court battles. At O’Day Law Firm, we help families in Davidson and the Lake Norman area cut through the noise. Let’s bust some of the most common estate planning myths [...]

Imagine this: You’ve spent years building a business, saving, investing, and creating a comfortable life for your family. You’ve got an estate plan in place and assume everything will run smoothly when the time comes. But then—because of one overlooked detail—your family ends up with a tax bill in the millions. Unfortunately, this isn’t just a theoretical horror story. It has happened to real families, and it can happen here in North Carolina [...]

Losing a loved one is hard enough. But what most people don’t expect is what comes next: suddenly being responsible for their house. Maybe the home is sitting empty while you and your family decide what to do. Maybe you’re considering selling it, or maybe another family member hopes to move in one day. Whatever the plan, an inherited house often comes with more responsibility and stress than most people realize. Why an Empty House [...]

When her father passed away, one woman thought she would inherit his home. Instead, she discovered months of unpaid mortgage bills piling up in the mailbox. Because her father never left a clear inventory of his assets and debts, she didn’t know where to begin. She tried to work with the bank, but without legal authority, her hands were tied. By the time the court finally named her estate administrator, the bank had [...]

We all love a good life hack. I’m a sucker for any Tiktok or Instagram reel that shows me inexpensive DIY cleaning hacks (with two kids playing soccer every day, I definitely spend too much money on deodorizing my car and house!) Finding a clever way to save time, money, or hassle is a universal win—except when it comes to estate planning. As a SurvivorSupport® attorney with 25 years of experience in estate [...]

Being a parent is a tough job – but being a parent to a child with special needs adds so many extra layers of responsibility – especially when it comes to financial security. Weaving through the maze of government benefits is difficult enough, so planning for after you are gone may seem overwhelming. Of course, you want to leave money to your child to ensure he or she has a comfortable life after [...]