Mandie Bullock, Esq.

08/26/2026

Thank you for referring people you care about. 💗
We will take great care of them! Here's this month's good word from one of our delighted clients:

08/23/2026

08/21/2026

Love gives you the instinct to protect them.
Legal planning gives you the authority.

Maybe they’re heading to college. Maybe they’re starting trade school, joining the military, taking a gap year, moving into their first apartment, or starting their first full-time job. Whatever their next step is, one thing is true: The moment your child turns 18, the law sees them as an adult.

That means if there’s a medical emergency, an accident, a financial issue, or any situation where they need your help, you will not be able to step in the way you could when they were younger.

My August Gift to Your Family:

That’s why I’m giving the first 5 families who schedule a Life & Legacy Planning Session this month and create a Life & Legacy Plan with my office a Young Adult Incapacity Document Set, valued at $500, to help make sure your young adult has the basic legal documents they need before they leave home.

08/18/2026

There’s more beyond what I share here on Facebook. 👀

If you’d like to stay connected and get more from me, please join my newsletter.

📩 Subscribe via email: [email protected]

I’d love to have you on the list! ✨

07/31/2026

Federal student loans are discharged when the borrower dies.

Doesn't matter how much was owed. Gone.

Private loans? Different story. I help you know the difference.

📱Schedule your free phone consultation today 619-993-8797.

07/29/2026

🤔 Here's a question families ask more than almost any other:

"If my spouse dies with credit card debt, am I responsible for it?"

Most people assume yes. Debt collectors often let them keep assuming.

The actual answer: in most cases, no. You are not personally responsible for debt held in your spouse's name alone. The creditor's claim is against the estate, not against you.

But there are three situations where personal liability is real:

Joint accounts. If you held a credit card, bank account, or loan jointly with another person, that person was always a co-borrower. The death of one account holder does not change the other’s obligation. Joint account holders are responsible for the full balance, because they agreed to be when they opened the account. It is also important to note that being an authorized user or secondary cardholder is not the same as holding the account jointly. Authorized users did not sign the credit agreement and have no legal obligation to pay the balance.

Co-signed loans. A co-signer is a backup borrower. They agreed to pay if the primary borrower could not. That agreement does not expire at death. If you co-signed a loan for a family member who then died, you are responsible for that loan.

Community property states. Nine states treat most debt incurred during marriage as shared between spouses: Arizona, California, Idaho, Louisiana, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Washington, and Wisconsin. In these states, a surviving spouse may be responsible for debt the deceased spouse took on during the marriage, even on accounts held in the deceased’s name alone. The rules vary by state and sometimes by the type of debt.

Schedule a free 15 minute phone consultation to learn more about how an estate plan protects you and your loved ones.
https://mandiebullockesq.com/contact/

07/26/2026

We know that navigating the loss of a loved one is incredibly difficult, and dealing with financial matters can add unwanted stress.

Debt collectors can be persistent, but unless you co-signed or share the account, you are generally not responsible. During the probate process, creditors face strict deadlines to make claims, and if the estate's funds run out, the remaining debt is typically absorbed by the lenders.

It is also helpful to know that some debts, like federal student loans, are completely forgiven. For things like a home or car, the loan stays with the asset, so you can decide the best way forward together. While certain situations like reverse mortgages or Medicaid recovery require careful attention, you can protect yourself simply by holding off on using your own funds or signing any agreements until we review them with you.

We are here to help you gain true peace of mind. By creating a thoughtful estate plan, such as a revocable living trust, we can help ensure your hard-earned assets pass smoothly to your loved ones outside of probate. We would love to guide you through this process. Please reach out to schedule a Life & Legacy Planning Session so we can protect your family's bright future together. 619-993-8797

07/24/2026

💗Thank you for trusting us with the people who matter most to you. We're honored by your referrals and are committed to providing them with the same exceptional care you've come to expect. Here's this month's kind word from one of our delighted clients:

07/15/2026

July is Disability Pride Month, a time to celebrate the strength, resilience, individuality, and contributions of people with disabilities while recognizing that every person deserves to be seen, supported, and protected. 💗

Whether disability is part of your family's daily life, your caregiving journey, or simply a reminder that life can change in an instant, this month invites us to reflect on what it means to care for the people we love.

It also raises an important question:

If something happened to you, would the people you love be protected in the way you would want?

Schedule your complimentary 15 minute phone consultation today to learn how an estate plan protects your loved ones and you. 619-993-8797