A will matters, but it's rarely the whole plan. Outdated beneficiary forms, unfunded trusts, missing powers of attorney, and loose ends after a divorce can leave Nebraska families dealing with court proceedings and uncertainty at an already hard time. Our latest post walks through ten common estate planning mistakes, what Nebraska law generally says about each, and questions worth raising with a lawyer while you're still able to make your own decisions.

A will does not keep your finances private in Nebraska. Once a probate case is opened, your personal representative has to file an inventory of everything you owned, with values, in a public court file. Even a funded trust may still need a county court inheritance tax determination. This article walks through where a Nebraska estate becomes public, what a revocable trust, transfer-on-death deed, and the two $100,000 affidavit procedures can and cannot protect, and what to gather before you meet with an estate planning attorney.

A financial power of attorney can be incredibly helpful while a parent or loved one is alive, but it does not continue after death. In Nebraska, authority to access accounts, pay bills, handle funeral expenses, or manage estate property must come from another legal source, such as a trust, beneficiary designation, small estate affidavit, or appointment by the county court as personal representative. This article explains what families should know before using online banking, writing checks, or moving money after a loved one passes away.