56% of Americans Have No Estate Plan. Here Are the 5 Documents Every Family Needs.
By John F. Davenport, Esq. | Davenport & Associates, Norwalk, CT | April 20, 2026 According to the 2026 Trust & Will Estate Planning Report, 56 percent of American adults have no estate planning documents whatsoever. No will. No trust. No power of attorney. No healthcare proxy. Nothing. That number has barely moved in years…. View Article
READ MORE
Is Your Old Estate Plan a Time Bomb? Why Credit Shelter Trusts May Be Costing Your Family
By John F. Davenport, Esq. | Davenport & Associates, Norwalk, CT | April 13, 2026 If your estate plan was written before 2018, there is a good chance it contains a provision that was once considered essential but is now, for most families, doing more harm than good. It is called a credit shelter trust,… View Article
READ MORE
Long-Term Care Costs in 2026: How to Protect Your Assets Before Medicaid Rules Change
By John F. Davenport, Esq. | Davenport & Associates, Norwalk, CT | April 7, 2026 Nobody plans for a nursing home. And then one day, it becomes the only conversation that matters. The average semi-private nursing home room in the United States now costs $114,975 per year. In Connecticut, that number is significantly higher. And… View Article
READ MORE
Will vs. Revocable Living Trust in 2026: The Difference and Which One Your Family Actually Needs
One of the most common questions I hear from families at their first estate planning meeting is a simple one: Do I need a will or a trust? What is actually the difference? It is a reasonable question. And the honest answer for most families is: you need both. But they do completely different jobs,… View Article
READ MORE
The Estate Tax Exemption Is Now $15 Million in 2026: Does Your Estate Plan Still Make Sense?
On January 1, 2026, the federal estate tax exemption increased to $15 million per person — $30 million for married couples. It is now permanent, with no scheduled expiration. If you read that and thought, ‘that doesn’t affect me — my estate isn’t anywhere near $15 million,’ I want to stop you right there. Because… View Article
READ MORE
What Happens If I Die Without a Will in 2026? (Intestate Succession Explained)
One of the most common estate planning fears is: “What happens if I die without a will?” The answer is intestate succession — state laws decide who gets your assets, who raises your kids, and how everything is handled. In 2026, dying without a will (intestate) can create unnecessary delays, costs, and family stress —… View Article
READ MORE