Rice & Rice

10/23/2026

They can unlock the front door. That doesn’t answer what happens next.

A spare key tells someone you trust them. It doesn’t explain where your documents are, who has authority to act, or what you want to happen to your home.

Those are different conversations, and they deserve more than “you know where the key is.”

Start with something simple this weekend: tell your person where your plan is kept. If you don’t have a plan yet, let that be the start of the conversation, not a reason to avoid it.

Follow Rice & Rice for explanations about the home, money, and decisions your family may one day need help navigating.

10/22/2026

The name on the account isn’t the only name worth checking.

You named someone to receive your account. But what happens if they pass away before you?

Some beneficiary forms allow a backup. Others have default rules that may not match what you intended. And your beneficiary’s children don’t necessarily step into their place automatically.

That’s why reviewing a plan means more than checking that a form was signed. It means checking what happens when life changes.

Follow Rice & Rice for the practical estate-planning questions worth asking while you still have time to answer them.

When did you last review your account beneficiaries?

General educational information, not legal advice. Outcomes depend on the account terms and applicable law.

10/21/2026

“Just use a TOD.” You’re right... But that answers only one question.

Several of you mentioned Transfer on Death in the comments on our recent reel. And yes: a properly arranged TOD—or Payable on Death (POD) designation for a bank account—can generally let that asset pass to the named beneficiary without probate.

That matters. But make sure the beneficiary form matches the rest of your wishes.

For example, your will might say “divide everything equally,” while your account names just one person. A valid beneficiary designation generally controls that account—not your will's instructions.

The takeaway isn’t that TOD is bad or everyone needs a trust. Your accounts, beneficiaries, and legal documents should work together.

Rice & Rice helps families coordinate these pieces, including POD/TOD provisions. Explore our planning services below.

Follow Rice & Rice for clear explanations of the estate-planning questions showing up in your comments—not just your paperwork.

(General educational information, not legal advice. Rules and outcomes depend on the asset, designation, and applicable law.)

Boutique attorneys for estate planning, probate, and elder law. Contact us for a no-obligation, free consultation.

10/16/2026

Nobody wants to leave that voicemail, and nobody wants to receive it. But the families who have this conversation early never have to leave it at all.

If not, start here: https://www.riceandrice.com/contact-us/

10/15/2026

Most people who set up a TOD stop one step too early. 👇

A Transfer on Death designation is genuinely useful. It skips probate and gets money to your family fast. But "fast" isn't the same as "protected." All at once means: no protection from your beneficiary's creditors, their divorce, or a 19-year-old inheriting a lump sum.

That's why we use TODs as one tool inside a bigger plan, not the whole plan. The trust is what decides how the money actually helps them.

Follow Rice & Rice for more like this, and contact us today to get started.

10/14/2026

$118,000. That's what one year in a nursing home can cost now. 😳

And here's what makes it worse: most families assume Medicaid steps in when the money runs out, but qualifying usually means spending down what you own first. By the time help arrives, there's not much left to protect.

The good news: families who plan ahead have legal options families in crisis simply don't. Timing is the whole game.

We post one of these every week. 👉 Follow Rice & Rice so the next one finds you in time.

Rice & Rice has helped 12,000+ families with elder law and estate planning since 1972. Learn about Medicaid eligibility, planning options, and free consultations.

10/09/2026

#2 is the one most couples can't answer. 👇

Ask these two questions this week. If either answer is "I'm not sure," that's your sign, and that's exactly what we help families fix.

👉 Follow Rice & Rice so more like this finds you before you need it.

10/08/2026

The answer to #3 surprises most people. 👇

Your checking account doesn't just "go to your family."

Without the right setup, it freezes—and your family can't even use it to pay for your funeral while they wait on a court.

The fix isn't a will. It's what happens to the account before anything happens to you.

We post one of these every week—the real answers to what happens to your home, your accounts, and your savings when life doesn't go to plan. Over 12,000 Indiana families have trusted us to get this right.

👉 Follow Rice & Rice so the next one finds you before you need it.

10/07/2026

Honest question: have you (or your parents) added a family member's name to a bank account to make things "easier"? 👇

You're not alone, but there's a safer option most people never hear about. This explains the difference 👇

Learn how to get power of attorney in Indiana with Rice & Rice. Call today for a free initial consultation with our Indiana POA lawyers.

10/02/2026

The 5-minute conversation that saves your family months of stress. 📌

Save this. Ask these this weekend. And if the answers aren't what you hoped for, we can help with that part. See more on our website.