Estate Planning

Some people think that estate planning is simply a matter of distributing assets to heirs after death. Others believe it is only for very wealthy families. The fact is, most individuals and families can benefit from having their own estate plan. Beyond ensuring that you will be able to control “who gets what, when you want, in the manner you want,” a properly designed and implemented estate plan can help you accomplish all of the following goals and many others:

Continue to enjoy your current lifestyle
Keep your affairs private
Guide loved ones through the complex probate and administration process
Ensure you will be well cared for if you become disabled or incapacitated
Make sure your wishes will be carried out in an end-of-life situation
Protect your assets today and for generations to come
Dramatically lower income, gift, estate and generation-skipping taxes
Leave a lasting legacy, by ensuring your goals, values and expectations are passed on to your children, grandchildren and succeeding generations

Our approach to estate planning is much like our approach to the other areas of the law we practice. We begin by listening closely to you, so that we gain an understanding of your most pressing concerns and the goals you hope to accomplish. Then, we design a customized plan to meet all of your needs. We provide all of the following estate planning services and more:

Wills
Revocable Living Trusts
Powers of Attorney
Health Care Directives
HIPAA Authorizations
Irrevocable Trusts
Life Insurance Trusts
Family Limited Partnerships
Qualified Personal Residence Trusts
Gift Programs
Retirement Trusts
Minors’ Trusts
Generation-Skipping Trusts
Tax Planning

Bullet points to consider when getting your estate planning done:

Last Will and Testament:

Who will receive your estate upon your death?
Are any of your beneficiaries disabled, young, or in financial difficulty?
Do any of your beneficiaries have addictions?
Who would you appoint as executor to distribute your estate at your death? What if that individual is unavailable?
Do you have young children? Who would raise them if you died while they were minors?
Do you own real estate in another state? Are you planning to move out of state in the near future?
Is there anything else you wish to discuss which may make your planning unique?
Please have a basic list of your assets available to discuss.

Power of Attorney:

Who would you choose to manage your financial affairs if you were unable to make decisions for yourself?
Do you trust your agent enough to allow him/her to make gifts to herself for potential planning strategies later in life?