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Trust & Estate Law

If you line up 100 lawyers, there is only one thing on which they will agree: failure to plan is a mistake.

Estate Planning

Estate Planning is the process by which people develop a plan that ensures that the assets they have accumulated during their lifetime are protected and distributed to those they love. Without proper estate planning, state law will determine who gets your property, and in what proportions Even with modest estates, there are basic techniques that advance your wishes and make the process easier for your family.

Estate planning in the United States is complicated by the fact that most homes, if not most assets, are held in joint tenancy. Grandpa dies first, and Grandma has it all. What’s the big concern? When Grandma dies, her entire estate goes into probate. Without a will, there may be bonding costs, and other avoidable expenses. Simple wills do not avoid probate, they only simplify it. Estate planning is very fact-specific. There are very few “cookie-cutter” wills. We can help you implement a variety of advanced tax strategies avoid a lengthy probate process and to keep your assets away from the IRS.

Probate

Almost everyone is familiar with the probate process,and has a "probate horror story" in which a relative died without a will. Oftentimes, the next of kin are left to deal with not only a house, cars, and other assets, but also the related debt, leading to the passage of months or even years before the deceased's issues are settled. In such cases, a lawyer examines the circumstances and advises that a court case, or probate, be opened to settle these issues. His or her retainer will likely be in the low-medium four figures. Everyone has seen a Probate Claims Notice in a newspaper – but no one anticipates the cost until it’s your responsibility. If it sounds expensive, it is. It's also avoidable.

Every family needs to plan for disability and death, and our offices can help you with these difficult decisions. At the very least, everyone should have a simple will, a medical power of attorney, and a property power of attorney. Our office can provide a basic estate plan very inexpensively.

Our clients entrust us to help them make sound legal decisions for their future as well as counsel surviving spouses and children during the transition.

Our firm handles the following Trust & Estate Planning issues:
  • Wills
  • Trusts
  • Powers of Attorney
  • Living Wills
  • Living Trusts
  • Guardianships and Conservatorships
  • Life Insurance
  • Charitable Giving
  • Retirement Benefits
  • Educational Trusts



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