The Law Office of Erin Baker Edgar, PLLC

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The Law Office of Erin Baker Edgar provides estate planning and special needs planning services for North Carolina families seeking to preserve government benefits, protect assets, and create thoughtful legacy plans with compassion and precision.

Does your family know the three things they will need most?When someone passes away or becomes incapacitated, the people...
09/24/2026

Does your family know the three things they will need most?

When someone passes away or becomes incapacitated, the people left to manage things need three categories of information:

Where the original documents are. Not copies. Originals. A will needs to be the original signed document to be submitted to probate court. Powers of attorney often require originals as well. Does someone know where yours are?

Who your attorney is and how to reach them. Your estate planning attorney can be one of the most valuable resources your family has in the days and weeks after something happens. Do your loved ones have that contact information?

How to find and access your financial accounts. Bank accounts, retirement accounts, investment accounts, life insurance policies, real estate deeds. Would your family know where to look and how to access what they need?

These three things can make an enormous difference in how smoothly your family is able to move forward.

Does someone in your life have this information?

What would the morning after look like for your family?Not in a distant, abstract sense. The actual morning after someth...
09/22/2026

What would the morning after look like for your family?

Not in a distant, abstract sense. The actual morning after something happened to you.

Who would they call? Where would they look for your will? Would they know the name of your attorney? Would they be able to find your financial accounts, your insurance policies, your passwords?

Would they know what to do first?

For most families, the answer involves a lot of uncertainty. Not because they aren't loved. But because the practical details were never written down or communicated.

An estate plan that exists but can't be found or executed isn't protecting anyone.

This week we're talking about ex*****on readiness, making sure that when your family needs your plan, they can actually use it.

What does your family know about where to find your plan?

Have you told the people in your plan what you're asking of them?Naming someone in your estate plan is one thing. Having...
09/19/2026

Have you told the people in your plan what you're asking of them?

Naming someone in your estate plan is one thing. Having the conversation with them is another.

Many people name an executor, a trustee, or a health care agent without ever telling that person. They assume the person will find out when the time comes and figure it out from there.

But the time when your family needs your plan to work is not the time for surprises.

The people you've named deserve to know. They deserve to understand what the role involves, what your wishes are, and that you trust them specifically for this.

That conversation doesn't have to be heavy. It can be as simple as: I've named you in my estate plan because I trust your judgment. I want to walk you through what that means.

Have you had that conversation with the people you've named?

What makes someone the right person to name in your estate plan?It's not always who you'd expect.Here are the qualities ...
09/17/2026

What makes someone the right person to name in your estate plan?

It's not always who you'd expect.

Here are the qualities that matter most:

Trustworthiness. This is non-negotiable. The person you name needs to be someone who will act in your interest and the interest of your family, not their own.

Availability. The right person is someone who can actually show up when needed. Geography matters. So does their own health and life situation.

Steadiness under pressure. Estate administration often happens during grief. The person you name needs to be able to function clearly and practically during a difficult time.

Willingness to ask for help. They don't need to know every legal step. They need to be willing to work with your attorney, your accountant, and other professionals who can guide them.

Alignment with your values. Especially for health care decisions, the person you name should understand what matters to you and be willing to honor that even when it's hard.

Does the person you've named still fit this picture?

Are the people in your estate plan still the ones you would choose today?When you made your plan, you named people. An e...
09/15/2026

Are the people in your estate plan still the ones you would choose today?

When you made your plan, you named people. An executor. A trustee. A financial agent. A health care agent. A guardian for your children.

You chose those people carefully. At that time.

But people change. Relationships change. Circumstances change.

The executor you named may now be dealing with health issues of their own. The financial agent you trusted may have moved across the country. The guardian you chose for your children may no longer be in a position to take on that responsibility.

Naming someone in your estate plan isn't a permanent contract. It's a decision that deserves to be revisited as your life evolves.

The right person for the role isn't always the closest relative. It's the person who is steady, trustworthy, willing to ask questions, and able to follow your wishes even under pressure.

Are the people in your plan still the right ones?

What has changed in your life since you last updated your estate plan?Think about the last three years.Has your family g...
09/12/2026

What has changed in your life since you last updated your estate plan?

Think about the last three years.

Has your family grown or changed? Have you bought or sold a home? Have you started or ended a business? Has someone you named in your documents passed away, moved, or had a major health change?

Has your relationship with anyone named in your plan shifted?

Any one of these changes can affect whether your plan still works the way you intended.

An estate plan isn't a document you file and forget. It's a reflection of your life and your wishes. When your life changes, your plan should too.

What's one thing that has changed in your life that might affect your plan?

Do you know when your estate plan should be reviewed?There's no single rule. But there are clear signals.Review your est...
09/10/2026

Do you know when your estate plan should be reviewed?

There's no single rule. But there are clear signals.

Review your estate plan after any major life event:

Marriage or remarriage.

Divorce or separation.

The birth or adoption of a child.

The death of someone named in your documents.

A significant change in your financial situation.

A move to a different state.

A change in your relationship with someone named in your plan.

Beyond life events, most estate planning attorneys recommend reviewing your plan every three to five years even if nothing has changed. Laws change. Circumstances shift. What worked five years ago may have gaps today.

If it's been more than three years since you looked at your plan, this is your sign.

When did you last review your estate plan?

Is your will still speaking for the person you are today?A will written years ago reflects the life you had then. The re...
09/08/2026

Is your will still speaking for the person you are today?

A will written years ago reflects the life you had then. The relationships. The assets. The wishes.

But life changes. And when it does, an old will may no longer reflect what you actually want.

Here are some of the most common reasons an estate plan needs to be reviewed:

Marriage or divorce. A new marriage may bring new people into your family who aren't reflected in your plan. A divorce may leave a former spouse named in documents you've forgotten about.

New children or grandchildren. If your family has grown, your plan may not account for the people who matter most to you now.

Death of a named person. If someone named in your documents has passed away, that role may be unfilled or filled by a default the court chooses, not you.

Significant change in assets. If you've bought a home, started a business, inherited money, or experienced a major financial shift, your plan may no longer match what you have.

A will that no longer reflects your life isn't just outdated. It can create confusion, conflict, and outcomes you never intended.

When did you last review yours?

When did you last think about whether your estate plan still fits your life?Not when you made it. When you last thought ...
09/05/2026

When did you last think about whether your estate plan still fits your life?

Not when you made it. When you last thought about whether it still fits.

Most people make a plan and move on. Life continues. Things change. The plan doesn't.

A will written five years ago may name a guardian who has since moved across the country. A power of attorney may name someone whose health has changed. Beneficiary designations on accounts may still list a former spouse or a parent who has passed.

None of this happens because people stop caring. It happens because life moves fast and estate planning feels like a one-time task.

It isn't. It's a living part of your family's protection.

This month we're asking a simple question: is your estate plan still ready?

When did you last review yours?

How ready is your estate plan right now?Here's a quick readiness check. Go through each item and note what you have, wha...
09/03/2026

How ready is your estate plan right now?

Here's a quick readiness check. Go through each item and note what you have, what's missing, and what needs to be updated.

Core documents: Do you have a will, a financial power of attorney, a health care power of attorney, and a trust if needed?

Current beneficiaries: Are the beneficiaries named on your accounts, retirement plans, and life insurance still the people you intend?

Named agents: Are the people named in your documents still the right people, willing, able, and up to date on your wishes?

Document location: Does someone you trust know where to find your original documents?

Attorney contact: Does your family know who your estate planning attorney is and how to reach them?

Account information: Would your family be able to find and access financial accounts, insurance policies, and other assets if they needed to?

If you got through that list without hesitation, your plan is in good shape. If anything gave you pause, that's worth a conversation.

What's the one item on this list you're least sure about?

Find the Gaps in Your Plan: erinedgarlegal.com/estate-plan-gaps

Address

150 Fayetteville Street, Ste. 300
Raleigh, NC
27603

Telephone

+19198071863

Website

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