Estate planning is simply the process of putting appropriate documents in place to ensure that your wishes are met in the event of your disability, incapacity, or death. In some ways, everyone already has an estate plan, as the state in which you live has laws that govern what happens under any of these circumstances. That plan, though, may not be what you want. We can help you to create a plan that is as simple or complex as is needed for your specific situation and your specific wishes. Some of the documents we create include:
- Beneficiary Designations to ensure that assets that don’t require probate transfer to the heirs you want in the way that you wish.
- Powers of Attorney to name an agent to manage your affairs in the event of disability or incapacity.
- Advanced Health Care Directives to name a health care agent who will help make medical decisions for you in the event that you are unable to do so.
- HIPAA Releases to decide who has access to your medical records if needed.
- Wills to name an Executor, name a guardian or conservator, and establish trusts. They determine the distribution of your assets – to whom, when, and how.
- Trusts to protect spouses, children, and other heirs from predators and creditors.
During times of emotional turmoil and potential conflict for your family, a good estate plan helps to preserve and protect your assets and clarify your wishes.
