Estate Planning
Planning for Your Future
Everyone should have an estate plan in place. At its core, your estate plan is your personal fail-safe for the unexpected.
We offer personal service and a direct line to your attorney. We want all of our clients to feel confident in their estate plan and will work with you to make sure your goals are achieved. No person’s journey in life is the same and neither should your estate plan be.
A basic estate plan includes the following documents:
Last Will and Testament
A Will is an outline for how you would like your assets to be disbursed upon your death. When a person dies, the things they owned are “stuck”. No one has the authority to do anything with their property and it cannot pass to loved ones without a court’s authorization via probate. A Will allows the Court to order the property be disbursed according to your wishes through the probate process. If you do not have a will, the laws of the state will determine who receives your assets.
Trust
A living revocable trust is the most common type of trust, though there are many types for many different situations. A properly funded trust allows your assets to pass to your intended recipients without the need for probate. It allows the process to move quickly and without the need for a Court to be involved. Even small estates can benefit from a Trust. A Trust allows for a more streamlined process and can relieve much of the burden of estate administration for your loved ones.
Durable Power of Attorney
A Durable Power of Attorney authorizes a person of your choosing to act on your behalf for all of your property needs. Having this document in place before you need it ensures that if you are unexpectedly incapacitated, the person of your choosing could act on your behalf without the need for a Court’s intervention. Having a Trust and Durable Power of Attorney in place may avoid the need for a guardianship or conservatorship.
Healthcare Surrogate
A designation of Healthcare Surrogate is similar to the above described durable power of attorney, except it is specifically for medical decisions. Your healthcare surrogate can act on your behalf in making your medical decisions if you are unable to make them yourself. This allows you to choose someone who loves you and has your best interests in mind.
Designation of Pre-need Guardian
A Designation of Pre-need Guardian allows you control over who may be appointed your guardian or conservator if you were ever to need one. While a Durable Power of Attorney and Trust may lessen the need for a guardianship, if one does become necessary, having a Designation of Pre-need Guardian allows you to choose a person you trust while you are still capable and before the need arises.
Living Will
A Living Will directs your doctor to follow your choices when it comes to life saving measures. If you do not want your life prolonged by artificial means, you can make this clear in your Living Will.