Attorney John F. Koenig - Anchor Law, Life & Legacy Planning, LLC

Many people believe that once they've created a trust, they can simply file it away and forget about it. But just like your health needs regular check-ups, your whole estate plan (including your trust)  requires periodic reviews to ensure your plan will work for your loved ones and not fail when they need it. Read more... 2025.03.28 Why Reviewing Your Trust Regularly Isn't Optional—It's Essential You've taken the important step of creating an estate plan, and it includes a trust—congratulations! This shows you care deeply about keeping your family out of court and conflict, ensuring your wishes are known and honored, and you do not want to leave behind a mess for the people you love. Great work. But here's something you may not realize: an estate plan, a will, or a trust isn't a "set it and forget it" type of thing. Your estate plan is a living set of documents and tools that need regular attention to ensure they work when your loved ones need th...

  Without marriage's legal protections, unmarried couples face unique estate planning challenges that could leave partners vulnerable and children at risk. Learn how to protect your loved ones and assets with proper planning. Read more… 2025.03.20 Til Death Do Us Part? Why Unmarried Couples Must Have An Estate Plan That Works For the People They Love Love in the 21st century takes many forms, and for a growing number of couples, "forever" doesn't always include a marriage license. While a deeply personal choice, being unmarried adds layers of legal and financial complexity that can't be ignored, especially when it comes to protecting your assets and loved ones. Imagine this: you've built a life with your partner, maybe even bought a home and had children together. You share bills, dreams, and a future. But without the legal protections of marriage, what happens when one of you passes away? And what happens if one of you becomes incapacitated first? S...

With Spring Break upon us and summer close on its heels, many parents are planning fun getaways with their children. However, few consider what would happen to their kids if an emergency occurred during their travels. Read more… 2025.03.14 Planning a Trip? Protect Your Children with a Kids Protection Plan Ⓡ With Spring Break upon us and summer close on its heels, you're likely focused on planning the perfect getaway with your children - booking flights, reserving hotels, and mapping out exciting activities. But there's one crucial aspect of travel planning that often gets overlooked: ensuring your children's safety and care if something unexpected happens to you during your trip. While no one wants to think about emergencies during vacation, having proper protection in place lets you truly relax and enjoy making memories together. Let's explore why having a Kids Protection Plan Ⓡ (“KPP”) in place before traveling is essential and what steps you can take to prot...

Estate planning can seem overwhelming but understanding a few key concepts can make a world of difference for your family's future. Read more… 2025.03.10 Common Estate Planning Questions Part 2 of 2 When it comes to planning for your family's future, the options can feel overwhelming. Should you get a will? Create a trust? And what happens if you do nothing at all? These aren't just academic questions - your choices today will impact your loved ones tomorrow. In this second installment of a two-part Q & A series, I’ll break down the key differences between your primary estate planning options and explore practical ways to ensure your family is protected, no matter what the future holds. So, let’s dive in, beginning with a question about the basic estate planning documents. Q: What is the difference between a will, living trust, and dying intestate? And what does that mean, practically speaking? A: If you die without an estate plan, you do have a plan - it’s j...

  Understanding how accounts are titled and who has access to them isn't just about convenience—it's about ensuring your assets transfer smoothly to your loved ones while protecting them from potential risks. But how should you go about this? Read more… 2025.03.03 Common Estate Planning Questions Part 1 of 2 - On How to Handle Your Assets When it comes to estate planning, I get many questions about many topics. One of the most common questions I hear concerns account ownership and asset management. Understanding how accounts are titled and who has access to them isn't just about convenience—it's about ensuring your assets transfer smoothly to your loved ones while protecting them from potential risks.  In this first installment of a two-part series, I’ll answer the most common questions about asset ownership and management. I’ll also outline ways in which you can make things as easy for your family after your death. So let’s dive in, beginning with a question ab...

  Actress Shannen Doherty's death last year highlights how critical timing can be when it comes to estate planning during divorce. Her last-minute divorce likely saved her estate millions and prevented years of legal battles. Read more... 2025.02.24 Estate Planning During Divorce: Lessons from Shannen Doherty's Legacy The July 2024 passing of beloved Gen X actress Shannen Doherty offers important lessons about estate planning during divorce. Known for her iconic roles in "Beverly Hills, 90210," “Heathers” and "Charmed," Doherty not only faced a courageous and public battle with breast cancer but also raced against time to finalize her divorce and protect her estate. Her story shows why proper timing and planning are crucial when navigating divorce - one of life's most challenging transitions. The Power of Timing According to reports , just one day before her death, Doherty filed for an uncontested divorce from her husband Kurt Iswarienko, who s...

  4 Estate Planning Myths That Put Your Loved Ones at Risk 2025.02.17   Surveys conducted in 2024 by Caring.com and Ameriprise Financial revealed a troubling trend: Americans are falling behind on estate planning. The Caring.com survey  revealed that only 32% of Americans have a will - a 6% decline from 2023. The Ameriprise survey  found that 52% of couples lack estate plans. These statistics highlight a dangerous disconnect between understanding the importance of estate planning and taking action. Let's examine these misconceptions and their potentially devastating consequences. Myth 1: "I don't have enough assets to need an estate plan."  This dangerously narrow thinking ignores that estate planning isn't just about financial wealth. It's about doing the right thing for the people you love so you don’t leave a mess and ensuring your wishes for your care are considered if you cannot decide for yourself due to an accident or illness. If you haven’t c...