No matter your net worth, it is important to have a basic plan for your Estate in place to limit tax liability, preserve family wealth and reduce the burden on your loved ones.
Our Estate Planning Attorneys can assist clients with all aspects of Estate Planning including the preparation of the following:
The preparation of the appropriate documents ensures that our clients will maintain control of their financial and personal affairs while they are well and competent and can leave instructions for the future based on their personal wishes. Estate Planning for individuals includes planning for loved ones, but additionally planning for retirement, and planning for your care as you age. For business owners, we have a vast knowledge and expertise in planning for the management of your business and your legacy.
Depending on each client’s needs, Estate Planning can mean different things. For example, if you have young children, you need to plan who will care for them if something were to happen to you. Or perhaps you are wondering how to navigate leaving different assets to different children, or to your siblings, or your favorite charity. These are all normal issues that we can help find resolutions for without added pressure or stress.
Our Estate Planning Attorneys can help you develop an Estate Plan that can reduce your taxes and be more economical for your beneficiaries in the long run. We can provide you with plans for your future to protect your retirement, assets, business and family. Most importantly, our friendly, approachable attorneys will help you through the process as simply and easily as possible.
Q: What does Estate Planning mean?
A: Estate Planning is the process of designating who will receive your assets and handle your affairs after your death or incapacitation. An Estate Planning Attorney can help you determine the best legal documents to accomplish your Estate Plan. Your Estate Plan will likely include a Will, a Durable Power of Attorney, and an Advance Care Directive (also called a Living Will). It may also be to your benefit to have a Revocable or Irrevocable Trust.
Q: Why do I need an Estate Planning Attorney?
A: There are several benefits to hiring an Estate Planning Attorney, including saving yourself time and having the peace of mind that your documents comply with current law. Read more here.
Q: Isn’t Estate Planning expensive?
A: It does not have to be, we try to keep our prices affordable so everyone can have an Estate Plan. We also do most Estate Planning on a Flat Fee basis. Our pricing and billing process is designed to be as transparent and easy to understand as possible with upfront pricing and no hidden fees.
Q: Does Estate Planning help avoid Probate? Why does that matter?
A: Yes, if you have the right Estate Plan in place, your Estate may be able to avoid a probate after your death. Additionally, Estate Planning can save your heirs the burden of not knowing what you want done with your property, and avoid costly and emotionally draining legal battles amongst your heirs. Simply put, Estate Planning can save money and time, and help make things easier on your family.
Q: How often should I have an Estate Planning Attorney review my Will, Trust, and overall Estate Plan?
A: You should have your Estate Planning documents reviewed every year. Life changes every day, and your Estate Plan needs to be updated each time something significant happens. You should have your Estate Planning documents reviewed anytime you have a life change, such as a marriage, divorce, birth of a child or grandchild or a financial change. You should also have an Estate Planning Attorney review your Estate Plan when any of your beneficiaries has a life change.
Examples:
A regular review of your Estate Planning documents by an Estate Planning attorney can help avoid these types of issues.
Call us today at (405) 285-6858 to schedule a consultation with an Estate Planning attorney.
It is important to understand the limitations of a Power of Attorney before relying on it to be a substitute for Estate Planning by an Estate Planning Attorney. For instance, many people believe that a Power of Attorney will be able to take care of your Estate after death. Unfortunately, this is a common misconception….
It is important to understand that there are different types of Power of Attorney. Talking to an Estate Planning Attorney is a good option to discuss what kind of Power of Attorney will work best for you. A General Power of Attorney is signed in front of a notary public and automatically ends when the…
A Power of Attorney is a written legal document in which you may give your authorization for someone else to act on your behalf. This may include financial powers like buying and selling property or managing one’s assets. A Power of Attorney gives you the opportunity to keep your interests preserved and wishes known if…
As you begin the Probate or Estate Planning process, the term Personal Representative will definitely come up. The term Personal Representative is most commonly used, but the terms Executor or Executrix may be used if there was a Will and the term Special Administrator or Special Administratrix may be used if there was not a…
We are unable to plan many aspects of our life. We cannot predict how long we will live, or whether we will become ill or disabled in any way. We are, however, able to control what happens to our estate in the event that we become unable to manage it ourselves. Although Estate Planning is…
Many people throw around the terms Will (“I got left out of Grandma’s Will!!”) and Trust (“That kid won’t have to work a day in his life, he’s a Trust Fund baby”), but a lot of times they are thrown around carelessly and at the wrong times and in the wrong situations. What do they…
