Mark Eiland at Heircraft Planning was voted Best Estate Planning in the 2026 Nappie Awards, an annual recognition decided by readers across Mobile Bay. It is a meaningful mark of trust from the families we serve every day.
We wanted to take a moment to explain what this recognition means, and what has not changed. The work is still the same: helping Alabama and Florida families understand the system before they make decisions about it.
Watch Mark’s thank-you message to Mobile below.
What Is the Nappie Awards Recognition For Heircraft Planning?
The Nappie Awards are presented each year by Lagniappe, Mobile Bay’s independent news and culture publication. Winners are chosen entirely by reader vote across dozens of local categories, from restaurants to medical practices to professional services.
Mark Eiland at Heircraft Planning received the Best Estate Planning award this year. Behind that recognition is an approach that has not changed since the firm’s founding.
What Makes Heircraft Planning’s Approach to Estate Planning Different?
Mark Eiland has practiced law in Alabama for more than 30 years. Along the way, he spent time managing a regional bank trust department, an experience that gave him a close-up view of how estate plans actually function once they are put into use, not just how they read on paper.
He holds a finance degree from the University of Montevallo and a J.D. and LL.M. in Taxation from the University of Alabama School of Law. He is also an Accredited Estate Planner®, a designation held by a small group of professionals who meet advanced experience and education requirements in the field. He is licensed in both Alabama and Florida.
That background shapes how the firm works day to day. Fees are flat and agreed upon up front, and Heircraft Planning offers a system for regular plan reviews so documents can stay aligned with your circumstances over time, rather than being signed once and set aside.
Understanding what a document says on paper is different from understanding how it functions in real life. For families, that difference means fewer surprises later, and a plan that keeps pace with their lives instead of sitting untouched in a drawer.
Why Does Protecting People Matter as Much as Protecting Assets?
Estate planning often gets talked about as if it is only about property. Who gets the house, the accounts, the investments. That is only part of it.
A will or a trust only works if someone has the legal standing to carry it out. Choosing that person carefully is central to almost every conversation Mark has with clients, whether that means naming a guardian for young children, deciding who can make medical decisions, or protecting a spouse or partner the law does not automatically recognize.
Without planning, the system makes those decisions for you. Not through drama or crisis necessarily, but through a default process that follows legal criteria rather than personal relationships.
This applies to families at every stage, not just those with significant wealth. A young parent choosing a guardian, a retiree planning for incapacity, a blended family protecting both a spouse and children from a prior relationship all face the same underlying question. Who is protected, and have you actually put that in writing.
What Does This Recognition Mean for the Work Ahead?
Mark will continue to work with families in situations of every kind, from simple to more complex. He will explain how the system works, identify where confusion tends to happen, and help you make decisions with a clear understanding of what they involve.
That work does not change because of an award. It is the reason for it.
If you want to learn more, our free guide, The Estate Planning Book for Alabama Families, walks through how the system works from start to finish. If you are dealing with a loss right now, our free guide on what to do when a loved one passes away covers the practical steps that come next.
You can also watch our on-demand webinars, browse the blog library, or sign up for our monthly newsletter for new posts and seminar dates, all at heircraftplanning.com. Free in-person seminars, refreshments included, are held throughout the year in Mobile. View upcoming dates and register at heircraftplanning.com/upcoming-events.
When you are ready to talk through your own situation, you can schedule a consultation with Mark at heircraftplanning.com.
