Estate Planning is the process of distributing a person's assets during life and after death. Many people avoid estate planning because it seems confusing or unnecessary. On the contrary, making certain your legal and financial matters are taken care of is not only responsible, it is essential. If you have young children, these issues are all the more important. We take the confusion out of estate planning and ensure your wishes are clearly communicated.
The foundation of all estate planning includes the following:
The issues addressed by these documents are relevant to everyone. Should you have questions about your specific circumstances, please feel free to contact us.
There are several topics you should consider prior to meeting with an attorney to draft your estate planning documents.
Answering these questions will make your visit to your attorney more efficient and cost-effective.
In preparation for meeting with your attorney to discuss your estate plan, it may be useful for you to bring certain documents with you to the first meeting. These include:
At the first meeting, we will ask you about your family, health, and general goals and ideas about estate planning. We will also ask for a summary of assets, including bank accounts, IRA's, life insurance policies and other property interests. Certain assets, such as life insurance and retirement benefits, may require different treatment than other assets during the estate planning process. It is important to be thorough in sharing this information as well as truthful when disclosing the approximate worth of these assets. Be assured that this information is held in the strictest confidence and is covered by the rules of attorney-client confidentiality.
Once we have the information we need, we will work with you to devise a plan that makes sense for your circumstances and needs. We will then draft documents and send them to you for review. When reviewing these documents, it is essential to check the names of beneficiaries, personal representatives, trustees and agents. Also, be sure the documents accurately state your wishes.
After we receive your feedback and make changes, we will make final drafts of the documents, call you to set up an appointment, and then execute the documents. At no time should you hesitate to contact us with questions or concerns.
Disclaimer: The information contained on this website is NOT a substitute for legal advice and no representations are made as to the accuracy of this information. Individuals seeking individual advice about estate planning and probate are STRONGLY encouraged to obtain legal advice. Many of the terms used herein have a specific legal meaning which may be different from the common usage of these terms.
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