Wills, Trusts & Estate Planning

Everyone needs an estate plan to ensure that family and financial goals are met after death. An essential part of any estate plan is a Will to tell the world how to distribute assets and to provide for guardianship of any minor children. If an individual does not have a Will, the state will determine the disposition of assets and guardianship of any minor children.

We advise families, individuals, and business owners about:

• Wealth Preservation
• Tax Planning
• Management Succession
• Incapacity Planning through Powers of Attorney
• Wealth Transfer through Wills and Trusts

Estate Planning

Small Estate Plans may only necessitate:

• Will
• Power of Attorney
• Living Will
• Advanced Healthcare Directive

A Will is both an effective and cost-efficient vehicle for the transfer of assets from one generation to the next where tax planning is not required; however, a trust may more efficiently distribute your assets while avoiding probate court. We will work with you to draft a Will that addresses your needs and to draft any trusts necessary to meet your goals.

Larger estates requiring tax planning – A larger spectrum of estate planning solutions are available that include Wills, a variety of trust instruments, and gifting programs.

These may include:

• Wills
• Irrevocable Life Insurance Trusts
• Irrevocable Trusts (Medicaid Trusts, others)
• Inter Vivos Grantor Trusts (also known as Revocable Living Trusts)
• Credit Shelter Trusts
• Charitable Remainder Trusts
• Unified Credit Remainder Trusts (Federal Tax Credit)
• Special Needs Trusts for Disabled Children
• Qualified Income Trusts
• Family Limited Partnerships (FLPs)

We will also help you plan for sudden incapacity through durable powers of attorney and medical powers of attorney which authorize trusted persons to manage your financial and healthcare interests in periods when you cannot do so yourself. This planning will include an advance directive to physicians regarding extended life support during a final illness or irreversible condition which will remove any doubt as to your intentions.

Estate Plans are not one size fits all. Schedule a meeting with our attorney today to discuss your needs. We will review your current plan, discuss your needs and work with you to develop and implement an estate plan that addresses your needs.