Hon. Lorraine Birabil

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Hon. Lorraine Birabil

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Hon. Lorraine Birabil is an attorney and dedicated servant leader.

01/11/2026

Hello, November! 💚

A new month brings another opportunity to appreciate the people who make our work meaningful, the clients who trust us, the colleagues who support us, and the community we are grateful to serve.

As we step into November, everyone at Elaine Law Group wishes you a month filled with good health, peace of mind, meaningful progress, and beautiful moments with the people who matter most.

May the weeks ahead bring good news, renewed hope, and plenty of reasons to be thankful.

26/10/2026

A few moments from the Builders of Hope (BOH) event, where I had the opportunity to serve as a panelist on “Wills, Trusts, TODDs, Etc.: What Is Right for My Family?”

It was a valuable opportunity to discuss estate planning options and help families better understand the steps they can take to protect their assets, honor their wishes, and plan for the next generation.

Estate planning is not just about what we leave behind; it is also about making thoughtful decisions today that can make a difference for our families tomorrow.

19/10/2026

It was a pleasure attending the Urbandale Block Party alongside our partners at Jubilee Park Community Center.

Events like these are a great reminder of the importance of community, connection, and working together to make a lasting impact.

19/10/2026

Do you know who gets your bank account if something happens to you?

Many people assume their will decides. Often, it doesn’t.

If your account is set up as a Pay-on-Death (POD) account, the person named at the bank gets the money, even if your will says something different.

Here’s how POD works in plain English:
💬 You pick someone to receive the account when you pass
💬 It’s still completely yours while you’re alive
💬 Your beneficiary gets the money directly, usually without going through probate

Sounds great, right? It is! But I see families run into trouble when:

❌ The named person is no longer the right person (divorce, a falling out, a death)
❌ There’s no backup beneficiary
❌ A child is named without a plan for managing the money
❌ One account quietly undoes the “equal split” the family thought was planned

Your homework this week (takes 10 minutes):
1️⃣ Log in or call your bank
2️⃣ Ask: “Who is listed as beneficiary on my accounts?”
3️⃣ Make sure it matches what you actually want

Not sure how your accounts, will, and wishes fit together? That’s exactly what I help families with.

👇 Tell me in the comments: Did you know POD accounts could override a will? Share this with someone who needs to hear it!

This is general information, not legal advice. Laws vary by state.

16/10/2026

I wonder how many parents have actually sat down to think about who would raise their children if they could no longer do so.

As an estate planning attorney, I think this is one of the most difficult conversations a parent can have, not because no one loves their children, but because loving a child and being prepared to take responsibility for their upbringing are two different things.

You might think your sister would be the perfect choice, or that your children’s godparents would naturally step in. But have you had that conversation with them? Do they share your values about raising your children? Are they prepared for the financial and emotional responsibilities? Would your children feel safe and settled in their care? And have you taken the necessary legal steps to express your wishes?

I know these aren't questions any parent wants to dwell on for too long. But estate planning asks us to consider things we would rather not imagine, so the people we love aren't left facing uncertainty without direction.

October is Estate Planning Month, and I think choosing a guardian for your minor children deserves a place in that conversation. A will can allow you to nominate someone to serve as guardian, subject to the applicable law and court approval. It is also worth reviewing your financial arrangements to consider how your children would be supported if you were no longer around.

Sometimes, planning for your children means making decisions today that you hope you never have to use.

Have you thought about who you would trust with that responsibility? And if you have, have you had the conversation with them?

05/10/2026

October is National Estate Planning Month, so I want to use this month to encourage something that is easy to put off: actually looking at your estate plan.

If you have one, when was the last time you read it?

Not when you signed it. Not when your attorney prepared it. When was the last time you sat down and really looked at it?

Life changes.

You may have gotten married, divorced, had another child, started a business, bought property, moved to a different state, or simply found yourself in a very different place than you were when you first created your plan.

The people you trusted to make decisions for you may have changed too.

Estate planning gives you an opportunity to make those decisions while you can. It gives your family direction instead of leaving them to figure things out in the middle of a difficult situation.

And if you own a business, I would especially encourage you to think beyond your personal assets. What happens to your ownership interest? Who can step in? What happens to the business you spent years building?

These conversations aren't always easy, but they are important.

Estate planning is not about expecting something bad to happen. It is about being intentional about what happens if life does not go according to plan.

So this October, take a look at your plan.

If you do not have one, start one.

If you have one, make sure it still makes sense for the life you are living now.

01/10/2026

October is here.

I hope you had a chance to breathe before this month began.

For me, the beginning of a new month is a simple reminder that we are still here, still working, still learning, still building.

To every business owner trying to make the right decision.

To every family carrying responsibilities that nobody else sees.

To everyone working toward something that matters to them.

I hope October brings you good people, good opportunities, good health, and the wisdom to recognize them when they arrive.

Happy New Month.

Wishing you a beautiful October.

28/09/2026

It was a meaningful day at the Manifest Your Purpose (MYP) event.

I had the opportunity to join the “Protect the Bag” panel, moderated by Dallas personal injury attorney Byron Bailey, and have an important conversation about what it really means to protect what you are building.

As entrepreneurs and professionals, we spend so much time thinking about growth. But growth also comes with responsibility, protecting your business, your ideas, your relationships, your finances, and the work you have put into building your vision.

I’m grateful to MYP for creating a space for these conversations and for bringing together so many people who are committed to building with purpose.

It was also great connecting with Kim Roxie of LAMIK Beauty and hearing from the other incredible speakers and panelists throughout the event.

Protect what you build. Build with purpose.

01/09/2026

September. 9/12.

Nine months into the year.

And suddenly, there are only three months left.

I do not know about you, but there is something about September that makes me pause.

Not panic.

Pause.

Because the beginning of the year always feels generous with time.

We make plans. Set goals. Write things down. Tell ourselves there is plenty of time.

And then September arrives.

9 out of 12.

A quiet reminder that time has been moving, whether we were ready or not.

So this month, I am not interested in putting unnecessary pressure on myself over everything I have not done.

I am choosing reflection instead.

What has this year taught me?

What am I proud of?

What needs to change?

What still deserves my attention?

And what have I been carrying that I need to put down?

Three months is still time.

Enough time to begin.

Enough time to finish something.

Enough time to have the conversation.

Enough time to make the decision.

Enough time to become more intentional about how we spend the days we still have.

So, welcome, September.

I am entering this month with gratitude for how far I have come, honesty about what still needs work, and hope for what can still happen before the year ends.

9/12. We are not at the beginning anymore. But we are not done yet.

24/08/2026

There are decisions I have made as a lawyer that I would never recommend to a client.

Running a law firm has taught me that knowing the law is one thing.

Knowing when to say yes, when to say no, and when to walk away is another.

Some of the hardest decisions I have made were not about winning. They were about protecting the firm, preserving its values, serving our clients well, and looking beyond what was immediately in front of me.

I have learned that growth is not always about saying yes.

Sometimes, growth means knowing what you refuse to compromise.

Not every client is the right client.

Not every opportunity is the right opportunity.

And not every dollar is worth taking.

As you build, what are you willing to protect?

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