Estate Planning Resources for Families
This page is full of articles for families that aren’t sure where to start. Browse and, when you’re ready, Let’s Get Started on an estate plan built for your family.
Estate Planning for New and Expecting Parents: Preparing for More Than Just Birth
Prenatal care protects your baby’s health.
Estate planning protects their future.
Learn what every new parent needs — it’s easier than you think
Let’s Take the Next Step — Together
Discover how estate planning can be simple and personal. Visit Joyce Brafford Law Firm’s new Johnston County office for a relaxed consultation and take the next step toward protecting your family.
Should Your Family Have a Revocable Living Trust?
Learn when a revocable living trust is the right choice for North Carolina families, what benefits it offers, and how an attorney helps you set it up.
No Pressure, Just Planning: Why I Offer Free Consultations for Families
Estate planning shouldn’t be stressful or confusing. Learn why I offer free, no-pressure consultations for families — and how I help Johnston County parents plan with clarity and confidence.
Planning for Peace: Understanding End-of-Life Wishes and Living Wills
Learn how a living will helps you express your end-of-life wishes in North Carolina. Understand what it includes, how it works with a health care power of attorney, and why it’s a meaningful part of your estate plan.
You Don’t Realize How Much Stress You’re Carrying Until You Let It Go
You may not realize how much worry you’re carrying until you finally create your estate plan. Joyce shares her own experience with that feeling — and the peace that comes when your plan is finally in place.
Why I Started My Law Firm — and Why I Focus on Families Like Yours.
Joyce Brafford Law Firm was founded with a simple mission: to help families protect the people they love. Learn how personal experience, community roots, and a commitment to compassion guide every part of the estate planning process.
The Peace That Comes After You Finally Get It Done
Find peace of mind by completing your estate plan. Joyce Brafford Law Firm helps families protect what matters most with care, clarity, and compassion.
The Most Overlooked Estate Planning Tool for Parents
When we think about estate planning, most people jump straight to wills. But there’s another document every parent should have: a Power of Attorney.
Why Your Spouse Might Not Automatically Inherit Everything
Many couples assume that if one spouse passes away, the other automatically gets everything. In North Carolina, that’s not always the case.
Life Insurance and Wills — A Powerful Duo for Protecting Your Family
If you already have a life insurance policy, you’ve taken a huge step toward protecting your loved ones. But pairing that policy with a will makes your plan even stronger.
Blended Families Need More Than Love to Protect Everyone
If you’re in a blended family, you already know it takes patience, communication, and love to make it work. It also takes a clear estate plan to make sure everyone you care about is protected.
Guardianship — The Most Important Decision Parents Forget to Make
If something happened to you tomorrow, do you know who would care for your children?