Bluebird Law

04/15/2026

If you have kids, you probably assume that if something happened to you, the other parent would step in and everything would work itself out.

In many families, that's true. But not always.

Real life is messy. Parents separate. Relationships become contentious. Custody disputes drag on for years. And when a tragedy occurs in the middle of all of that, children can end up in legal limbo while adults and courts scramble to figure out what happens next. A recent Michigan case shows exactly how complicated things can get. It also reveals a gap in estate planning that most parents never see coming and that a basic will simply cannot fill.

Read on to learn how a Life & Legacy Plan with a Kids' Protection Plan fills that gap: https://bit.ly/4cwQxKR

03/13/2026

Creating a Trust in Your Will vs. Creating a Living Trust

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. It sounds like a good solution, but here's what most people don't realize: a trust created in your will works very differently from a living trust you create today, and the difference will have a major impact on your loved ones when you die.

Both options use the word "trust," which makes them sound similar. But the experience your family will have after your death depends entirely on which type you choose. More importantly, these different approaches serve different goals, and understanding what you're actually trying to accomplish is the most critical part of making the right choice.

In part one of this two-part series, let’s dive into what happens when you create a trust in your will and help you evaluate what you're really trying to achieve.

https://bit.ly/4rAR5F3

03/05/2026

When someone calls an estate planning attorney asking for a "quick look" at their documents, the request usually sounds straightforward. Maybe the documents were created using an online service, and they want to “just be sure” the documents are sound. Perhaps there's been a move to a new state and a question about whether the plan still works. Or maybe the documents are a few (or more) years old, and there's uncertainty about whether they're still valid. Most people expect a simple yes or no answer, preferably during a brief phone call or quick and cheap consultation.

The reality is that there's no such thing as a simple document review when it comes to estate planning. What seems like a straightforward question actually opens a myriad of legal, financial, and personal considerations that require thorough analysis and consideration, if you want to ensure your plan doesn’t fail the people you love.

This article explores why an estate plan review requires more depth than you may expect, what a proper review actually involves, and why investing in a review of your plan now can save your loved ones from extremely costly problems later.

https://bit.ly/4r9BMTH

02/04/2026

This week on the blog: Where Will You Live and How Will You Get and Pay For Care As You Age? A Legal and Practical Guide

If you’re planning for your own future or helping aging parents, understanding options for living and long-term care isn’t just about finding a nice place to live. It’s about navigating a complex web of legal, financial, and personal decisions that will affect quality of life, inheritance, and family dynamics for generations to come.

We break down what you need to know: https://bit.ly/3McGBNk

02/02/2026

Cheers to the first Monday in February! Happy Groundhog Day!

01/23/2026

Your mom told you not to worry; she had everything handled. You were her power of attorney, helping her pay bills and manage her accounts. When she passed away, you assumed you’d simply continue handling things the same way you had been.

Then you tried to deposit the insurance check. The bank clerk looked at the check, looked at your power of attorney paperwork, and shook her head. “I’m sorry, but we can’t accept this. You’ll need to go through the probate court first.”

Suddenly, you’re facing a legal process you know nothing about, at a time when you can barely function through your grief. The mortgage payment is due. Bills are piling up. And everything you thought was handled has turned into a complicated mess.

Understanding why this happens starts with knowing what shifts the moment someone dies. Learn more in this week's blog post, Frozen Accounts, Court Delays, and Grief: What Happens in the Probate Process.

https://bit.ly/49THcvc

01/16/2026

✨ New Year’s resolutions are often about becoming healthier, stronger, and more intentional.

If estate planning is not on your list this year, what goal are you focusing on? 💛

Trusted Montana estate planning attorney Ariel Overstreet-Adkins provides wills and trusts. 406-206-5959.

01/14/2026

Personal belongings are the number one source of conflict when someone dies. It’s not the bank account, the house or the insurance. It’s the “stuff.” The personal items that carry emotional or sentimental value matter the most to loved ones.

The good news? You can prevent this overwhelming situation through thoughtful planning today. This week on the blog, you’ll learn how to organize your belongings, communicate your wishes, and create a plan that protects your family from drowning in stuff while preserving what truly matters. https://bit.ly/3ZbJelo

01/08/2026

Did you make a New Year's resolution to create or update your estate plan? We can help with that!

One of the first questions you might ask is whether you need a will, a trust, or both. Both can play an important role in your estate plan, but the real question is not which document you should choose, but how to create a plan that actually works when your loved ones need it to.

This week on the blog, you’ll learn the real difference between wills and trusts, how each works in practice, and what you should consider before making a decision. More importantly, you’ll discover why choosing the right tool is only one part of building a plan that keeps your family out of court, out of conflict, and out of costly mistakes.

https://bit.ly/4qNhJL2

12/11/2025

When adult siblings come together to care for aging parents, something unexpected often happens. Instead of bringing families closer, the experience frequently exposes old wounds and creates new rifts that never fully heal. What should be a time of unity becomes a source of lasting conflict.

With over 37 million Americans providing unpaid eldercare, these painful dynamics play out across the country every single day. And while you may be focused on caring for your own parents right now, there’s an uncomfortable truth you need to face: someday, your children might be in this exact position, trying to coordinate your care.

The question is, will you leave them a roadmap or a minefield?

Learn more: https://bit.ly/44QFmJW