Our Services
Estate Planning
Probate, Wills, Trusts, Special Needs Trusts, Trust Administration, Durable Powers of Attorney, Advance Health Care Directives
The foundation of every good estate plan is your Will. If you don’t have a Will and you die, then your estate will be tied up for many months in probate and the state will decide who inherits your assets, and more importantly, a judge will determine who will have custody of your children! Do you really want the state to make those decisions for you? Of course not!
The next critical element of a good estate plan is setting up your Trust. A well thought out and legally sound Trust can let you put conditions on how your assets are distributed after you die that a Will alone cannot do. If done properly, a Trust will avoid lengthy and expensive probate, and will help you minimize or avoid unnecessary gift and estate taxes, and a Trust will help you better provide for and take care of your spouse, children and loved ones long after you die.
Other important elements of a good estate plan include having your Durable Power of Attorney as well as having your Health Care Directive. What would happen if you were seriously injured or become seriously ill or have a serious stroke and become unable for a period of time or permanently to make decisions for yourself? Your spouse, children, or loved ones may not be legally able to make those decisions for you, including accessing your bank accounts, retirement accounts, life insurance, or be able to pay your bills, or handle or make any other financial or health decisions on your behalf. As a minimum, they will have to spend a lot of time and money to hire attorneys to go to court to try to secure the necessary legal authorizations for you, and even then you may not get everything you need or want. But having your Durable Power of Attorney and your Health Care Directive will allow you to have your spouse, loved one, or trusted friend to be able to immediately handle all of those critical things for you.
Probate
A probate is the legal process of administering a deceased person’s estate. This process includes verifying their will (if they have one), settling debts and taxes, and distributing assets to beneficiaries. Probate is typically handled by a court and overseen by an executor (if named in the will) or an administrator (if there is no will).
Trust administration
Trust Administration is the process of managing and distributing a trust’s assets according to the terms set by the grantor (the person who created the trust). After the grantor’s passing, the appointed trustee is responsible for handling assets, settling debts, paying taxes, and ensuring beneficiaries receive their inheritances as intended. Proper trust administration helps avoid probate, minimizes tax burdens, and ensures a smooth transition of wealth. Whether you're a trustee needing guidance or planning for your estate, professional assistance can help navigate the legal and financial complexities with confidence.