Wills and Estate Planning: Estate planning is important, no matter how small your estate may be. It allows you, while you are still living, to ensure that your property will go to the people you want, in the way you decide, and when you want you want it to. This permits you to save as much as possible on taxes, court costs and attorney fees, and it affords the comfort that your loved ones can mourn your loss without being simultaneously burdened with unnecessary red tape and financial confusion.
All estate plans should include, at minimum, three important estate planning instruments:
- Will,
- Durable Power of Attorney for Medical Decisions, and
- Durable Power of Attorney for Financial Decisions.
The will is for the management and distribution of your property after death. The other documents are for managing your property during your life, and providing for health care decision-making in case you are ever unable to do so yourself.
Many people also wish to make a Declaration as to Medical or Surgical Treatment (a "Living Will") that provides what should happen if you are in a terminal condition.
In addition to these planning instruments, more and more Americans today are using revocable (or "living") trusts to avoid probate and to manage their estates both during their lives and after they're gone.
We handle a variety of estate planning matters and advise our clients so as to gain the maximum benefit of all laws, while, at the same time, carrying out our client's wishes.
