Are there any holes in your estate plan?

Wills and trusts are typically changed over time as life circumstances, the state where you reside, or your desired outcomes change. It is actually the rare case where a person puts their estate plan together once and never changes it after that. What is important to understand however, is how to effectively and legally change your will or trust so that the changes are enforced per your wishes.

A will by any other name … no, sorry they are actually not the same

Because attorneys seem to have a hard time making anything easy, several estate planning documents have similar and easy to confuse names, which adds confusion to an already complicated topic. Estate planning legal matters are already confusing enough, so it certainly does not help to have similar names for related but completely different documents. Today, let’s try to clear things up a bit with a review of the differences between a “Living Will” and a “Living Trust.”

The Exhausted Dad: The birthday one-up game

Kids make birthdays more fun for everyone, as youth can be a distraction from the faint-but-ever-growing knocking at the door of our certain, future demise.

Today's Ghastly Groaner

What do you call a pig on a leash?

ITD won't lower speed limits in Shoshone work zones

From the bottom of Fourth of July Pass to the Idaho/Montana border there are four different construction zones along Interstate 90 where traffic is reduced to single lanes in each direction. The speed limits through these zones have become a topic of much debate as many feel that 65 miles per hour is simply too fast.

Get your nominations ready

Much like previous editions, the vote-based competition begins with folks nominating their favorite business in a number of diverse and exciting categories – once the nomination period ends, those results are tallied up and the top five contenders for each category go up for a vote.

'A light to anyone'

Kootenai Health doctor Jonathan Wright lost life in camping accident

KH doctor was respected, treasured

Today's Ghastly Groaner

What do you call a pig that does karate?

Young speakers' poise inspires

I said “yes” to teacher and friend Daniel Connelly when he extended an invitation to judge Summit Christian Academy’s speech meet last week.

ADVERTISING: Advertorial — Decoding food labels: Part I

While I am an advocate of and prefer a whole food diet, invariably processed foods enter the scene more often than I would like. This is true for millions of people worldwide. How do we navigate the myriad choices we have and try to stay on the healthy side of things? Because the population as a whole seems to be drawn towards eating healthier, and demanding a better quality of food presented to us, manufacturers and therefore marketers, are making labels harder and harder to decipher. Many intentionally trick the public into believing what they are eating is healthy. Just as we can make an evil person appear like they are an angel, and an angel appear evil, the same is being done with our foods with the caveat emptor (“let the buyer beware”) lurking behind the label.

Apples in the air and everywhere

The Coeur d’Alene Downtown Association couldn’t have asked for better weather for the Apple Palooza and final Fifth Street Farmer’s Harvest Market of the season.

Cd'A Library to hold free writers workshops

The Coeur d’Alene Public Library will host a free workshop series for local authors to pursue their Writer’s Mythic Quest.

SOCIAL MEDIA: Be honestly informed

Is social media the achievement of our lifetime or the bane of our existence? If used properly it keeps us updated with family, friends and news events. It can be an extreme irritant when used as described in the Coeur d’Alene Press editorial on Aug. 13.

NIC board to meet Wednesday

North Idaho College trustees are expected to hire legal counsel Wednesday.

TRANSITIONS: Path to better understanding

Regarding the recent letter asking questions about “kid transitions,” I hear you. I appreciate your passion for the well-being of children and the sustainability of human civilization. I would love to have a discussion with you about this.

VETERANS PRESS: North Idaho Resource Directory

Every county and state has a Veteran Affairs office to answer questions about benefits and provide assistance.

Spotting the difference between urine marking and urinary problems

Once pets have learned to urinate where it is appropriate, whether it is outdoors or in their litter box, it can be frustrating for owners when their pet urinates elsewhere in the house. While your first instinct may be to reprimand them for the unwanted behavior, you should first consider if they are simply marking or if there is a bigger health concern at play.

Snake alert: What to do if your pet is bitten

Spring has sprung, but flowers may not be the only things popping up in your yard. This also is the season when snakes come out of hibernation.

Navigating the mysteries of gray horse melanoma

Horse ownership offers many joys, but as owners navigate the needs of their equine companions, they may find that each breed has its own unique requirements. What owners may not know is specific coat colors can signal distinct health challenges that they should attentively watch for and address.

Springtime bliss: Keeping your pets safe from poisonous plants

Spring brings a burst of color and new life to our surroundings, but the very things that make spring so vibrant can pose serious threats to our beloved pets.