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Welcome to Nicole Pavlik Law Firm, I'm Nicole.
I had always wanted to be an attorney, but it wasn’t until I worked as a paralegal while in law school that I found my niche. I knew I didn’t like the adversarial side of law. I wanted to help people, so in 2013, I started the Nicole Pavlik Law Firm.
I’ve seen what happens to families when their loved ones haven’t planned their estates properly: anger, distrust, and hurt feelings among those left behind. My goal is to help you prepare the legal documents you need to plan for your family’s future after you’re no longer around to care for them.
As a small business owner, I also understand how much jargon and paperwork are involved in running a successful business. I help business owners set up a solid legal foundation so they can focus on running their business instead of wasting their valuable time dotting i’s and crossing t’s.
My success as an attorney stems from my focus on client relations and problem-solving. I meet with each client personally and communicate with them directly, and I don’t nickel-and-dime them with phone calls and emails.
I look forward to becoming your trusted advisor and helping you with all your legal affairs!
MOST RECENT BLOG ARTICLES
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Estate Planning For the Newly Married
Now is the perfect time to start working on an estate plan—because, as newlyweds, you may not have a list of your accounts, but you’ve effectively just done a working inventory of your possessions—as you’ve figured out how to consolidate two households into one. You’ve already been working on the new banking and shared responsibility…
5 Things Every New Mother Needs to Know About Wills
As a new mother, you naturally want to ensure your new baby’s future in every way. For many new mothers, infancy is a time for celebrating new life, and making a will is the last thing on their minds. For others, the process of bringing new life into the world sparks intense feelings of wanting…
Can You Gift Your Frequent Flyer Miles?
If you’re a frequent airline traveler, one of your estate planning concerns may be what will happen to your accumulated miles once you’re gone. They could be worth thousands of dollars, so you probably don’t want them to just disappear, but some airline policies say that’s exactly what will happen. The law doesn’t consider airline…
Your Cyber Legacy: 3 Tips for Your Digital Assets
There’s an entire category of commonly-overlooked legacy to consider – digital assets. Don’t worry if you didn’t consider these assets when made your will or trust – it’s surprisingly common and, luckily, easy to correct. What are digital assets? They include: ●your photos (yes, all those selfies are a digital asset), ●files stored in the…
4 Tips for Avoiding a Will or Trust Contest
A will or trust contest can derail your final wishes, rapidly deplete your estate, and tear your loved ones apart.But with proper planning, you can help your family avoid a potentially disastrous will or trust contest. If you are concerned about challenges to your estate plan, consider the following: 1. Do not attempt “do it yourself”…
Is a Payable on Death Account Right for You and Your Family?
Payable on death accounts, or “POD accounts” for short, have become popular for avoiding probate in the last decade or so. What is a POD Account? A POD account is a type of bank account authorized by state law which allows the account owner to designate one or more beneficiaries to receive the funds left…
Make an Achievable 2018 New Year’s Resolution – Get an Estate Plan Checkup!
With 2018 here, it’s time to start thinking about your new year’s resolutions. It doesn’t matter whether you have an estate plan or don’t, one important item to add to your list is getting an estate plan checkup. Don’t Have an Estate Plan? If you don’t already have an estate plan, then getting one in place…
How to Protect Your Child’s Inheritance from His or Her Untrustworthy Spouse
Parents who develop an estate plan often do so to provide for their heirs financially. Many want to make sure hard-earned assets, family heirlooms, or closely held businesses stay within the family. Indeed, a common question is what cost effective options are available to protect one’s children’s inheritance from a spouse in the event of…
New Baby? Time to Create Your Estate Plan
Estate planning is often one item that gets pushed back on nearly everyone’s to-do list. The reasons you might be delaying vary: lack of time, not thinking you have enough assets, not knowing how to start, or fear of contemplating death. Whatever the reason for not putting an estate plan together, it is important to…
ESTATE PLANNING RESOURCE ARTICLES
Final Disposition Instructions for Digital Assets: Protecting Your Online Presence
Most of our lives are lived online, from social profiles to email accounts and cloud storage. Digital assets are a part of our estate, yet many people overlook them when creating a trust or will. Adding final disposition instructions for digital assets is crucial in the modern world. Including digital assets in your estate plan…
Why a Special Needs Trust for Adults Is Critical for Lifelong Care
Few tools are as powerful and profitable as a special needs trust for adults when protecting the future of a loved one with disabilities. These contracts are a cornerstone of lifelong care planning with a trust, offering peace of mind, financial protection, and long-term stability for individuals who may never be fully independent. What Is…
Can a Living Will Cover Dementia Care Preferences?
We often associate living wills with emergencies like life support and feeding tubes. But what about something more gradual and deeply personal, like dementia? Can a living will cover dementia care preferences? This blog lays it out. Dementia Care in Advance Directives A living will is a type of advance directive, which is a legal…
What to Include in a Final Disposition Instructions Letter
One of the most personal and often overlooked pieces of an estate plan is the Final Disposition Instructions Letter. This simple document tells your loved ones and your estate planning attorney how you want your body and remains handled after death. What Is a Final Disposition Letter? Many people assume their loved ones will know…
Is A Power of Attorney Better Than An Executor?
Is a power of attorney better than an executor, and what’s the difference? Many people assume these terms are interchangeable or that one is more powerful than the other. However, each role has a different purpose in an estate plan. Executor vs Power of Attorney Responsibilities Let’s break down the differences and clarify duties. What…
How a Special Needs Trust Helps Preserve Government Benefits
Families often worry about how to provide long-term support without disqualifying their child or relative from essential government programs like Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Medicaid. That’s why a special needs trust is crucial. What Is a Special Needs Trust? A Special Needs Trust (SNT) is a legal arrangement to benefit those with physical, mental,…
Why You Need a Mental Health Care Power of Attorney
What happens when you can no longer speak for yourself? In many cases, you need a mental health care power of attorney (MHPOA) to help make health care decisions and leave nothing to chance. What Does a Mental Health Care Power of Attorney (MHPOA) Do? A mental health care power of attorney is a type…
Does Probate Fall Under Estate Planning?
You may hear the term “estate planning” and immediately think of trust funds from ultra-wealthy individuals. However, the truth is much more commonplace. So, does probate fall under estate planning, and if so, how? If you have a bank account, car note, or even a modest mortgage, you have an estate. And unless you plan,…
Living Wills vs. Final Disposition Instructions: What’s the Difference?
It’s easy to get overwhelmed by legal terminology when planning for the unexpected. One common area of confusion is telling the difference between living wills vs. final disposition instructions. Both are crucial to an estate plan, but each serves a different purpose. Let’s explore this distinction. What Is a Living Will? A living will is…
BUSINESS PLANNING RESOURCE ARTICLES
How to Enforce a Confidentiality Agreement
A confidentiality agreement protects sensitive information for individuals and businesses while forming the backbone that safeguards trade secrets, client data, proprietary ideas, and personal information. These legal tools are not merely standard formalities, but rather proactive strategies designed to help minimize risk, deter misconduct, and foster trust and professional relationships. They’re your first line of…
Legal Pitfalls in Freelancer Agreements
We live in a gig economy, which means freelancers and independent contractors fuel innovation with flexibility and untethered growth potential. However, there are many pitfalls in freelancer agreements that many contractors fail to notice. Let’s discuss what you should know. Common Freelancer Contract Mistakes Verbal agreements can be comforting and are legally binding, but they’re…
Avoiding Legal Issues in At-Will Employment Contracts
Misunderstandings, wrongful termination claims, and contractual contradictions can expose businesses to serious legal battles. Here’s how employers and employees can navigate at-will employment contracts while minimizing risks. What You Should Know About At-Will Employment Contracts At-will employment is the default rule in many states. It means employers can terminate employees at any time and for…
Key Clauses in Business Partnership Agreements
Understanding business partnership agreements (BPAs) is essential because it ensures all partners are on the same page regarding responsibilities, profits, disputes, and succession. Without one, misunderstandings and conflicts can arise, leading to costly legal battles or even business failure. Let’s learn more. Business Partnership Agreements 101 Partnership contract terms are more than formalities. They dictate…
What If My LLC Doesn’t Have an Operating Agreement?
One of the first and most essential steps you’ll typically take when starting or running an LLC is creating an operating agreement. Many ask, “What if my LLC doesn’t have an operating agreement,” and some use generic templates in an attempt to protect their interests. So, what are the risks, and how can an estate…
How Customized Operating Agreements Benefit Your LLC
Starting a Limited Liability Company (LLC) is an exciting step for any entrepreneur, but ensuring the business operates smoothly requires more than just filing formation documents. One of the most important yet often overlooked components of an LLC is a customized operating agreement. While many business owners opt for generic, one-size-fits-all templates, customized operating agreements…
LLC Operating Agreement Essentials: Protecting Your Business
One of the most critical steps in securing the future of your business is consulting an estate planning attorney for legal help for LLC agreements. LLC operating agreement essentials safeguard your interests by addressing potential disputes and unforeseen circumstances. LLC Operating Agreement Essentials: The Basics An LLC operating agreement is a legally binding document outlining…
Promissory Notes for Loan Security: Protecting Lenders and Borrowers
Clarity and legal protection are essential for lenders and borrowers in financial transactions. Promissory notes for loan security are vital tools to ensure each party is on the same page about repayment terms and obligations. Let’s explore the legal benefits of promissory notes and discover why working with an estate planning attorney is essential to…
Independent Contractor Agreements: What to Include to Protect Your Business
Independent contractor agreements are pivotal in helping companies scale and meet unique needs without hiring full-time employees. However, using independent contractors comes with legal complexities that require careful attention. Understanding independent contractor agreement essentials helps clarify the relationship and minimize potential risks like misclassification or dispute. Using Independent Contractor Agreements to Define the Relationship One…
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