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WILLS, TRUSTS, & ESTATE PLANNING

No one person's finances, family, wishes, etc. is the same as another. So why would you leave it to the law to decide what to do with your estate and who to give it to when you die?

Even a simple will can direct your estate to whomever you choose. Better still, an up-to-date estate plan can minimize tax risk, keep certain assets out of probate, help ensure the financial security of your loved ones, and even help you designate a guardian to manage your finances or health should you become incapacitated or not able to make certain life decisions.

Common reasons people come up with to forego making an estate plan (or fail to update their plan) include:

  1. "I don't have anything to give to my loved ones."
  2. "Everything goes to my wife when I die anyways, right?"
  3. "My child receives state and federal benefits, they will have what they need."
  4. "If I do my will, that means I have think about what happens when I die, and I don't like to think about that."
  5. "I will never be unable to take care of my finances or make my own medical decisions."
  6. "My mother will take care of my kids if my spouse and I die before they become adults. We don't need to designate a guardian for them or plan for them financially if that happens."
  7. "I don't need a will because my kids won't fight over my stuff when I'm gone."
  8. "I had my will done way back before I was married and had kids, it should still be good, right?"
  9. "If I can't make my own end-of-life decisions, my husband knows what my wishes are. My family won't argue over something like that."
  10. "I'm too busy to make an estate plan."

There are no doubt many more reasons people use to fail to plan their estate affairs or fail to update their plans..

Today's families are more complicated than ever before. Blended families, estranged relationships, families with children with developmental disabilities, and so on make it more important than ever to have an up-to-date estate plan.

Let me help ease your mind with a well thought out estate plan. Give me a call or send me an email and let's talk!

PROBATE

PROBATE

The probate process can be confusing and overwhelming, especially when you have just lost your loved one, sometimes unexpectedly. I will work with you to make the process as easy as it can be.

Have a probate issue you're unsure of how to deal with? Call for an appointment today and let's discuss how I can help.

I handle intestate (without a will) and testate (with a will) probate matters. If you have a matter that is contested, meaning not everyone in the family is in agreement on how to handle the estate, I work to resolve the issues quickly and efficiently and make every effort to preserve your loved one's estate so that their wishes may be honored as much as possible. Through the entire process, I will be with you!

GUARDIANSHIP

A person's rights should be preserved at all costs. Unfortunately, there are times when your loved one simply cannot take care of certain aspects of their life and thus need help. My goal is to preserve the rights of your loved one as much as possible, providing opportunities for alternative options to guardianship and, if necessary, seeking guardianship only to the point necessary to protect your loved one. Give me a call today and see how I can help you protect your loved one!

CONTRACT DISPUTES

Entering into contracts is a normal part of our lives. When a contract goes bad, however, the results can be catastrophic. It can be difficult to know where to turn and what to do when a contract goes bad. Negotiating with the other party may not be an option without legal help. Call for an appointment today and let's discuss how we can make you whole again!

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