Estate Planning
We work with clients to identify planning opportunities in the event of incapacity or death. We focus not only on what happens to your stuff, but also on the loved ones you leave behind. Whether you are single, in a committed relationship, married, or divorced, and whether you have children (blood, step, adopted, or fur babies) or you don't, we will work with you and your specific circumstances to design a plan that's right for you, including documents such as:
- Last Will and Testament
- Durable (Financial) Power of Attorney
- Medical Power of Attorney
- Directive to Physicians (also known as Living Wills or Advanced Directives)
- HIPAA Authorization & Release
- Declaration of Guardian in Case of Future Need (for Adults and Minor Children)
- Burial Directive
And More.
Trusts
Trusts are legal entities created by a person or persons (the "grantor(s)"), held and managed by the "trustee," for the benefit of the "beneficiary" or beneficiaries. Trusts can be used in conjunction with your Will for a variety of reasons, including asset protection for beneficiaries (including dependents with special needs), tax purposes, and in some cases, probate avoidance. We prepare:
- Revocable (also known as "Inter Vivos" or "Living") Trusts
- Irrevocable Trusts
- Supplemental (or "Special") Needs Trusts
And when appropriate, assist clients with trust funding (i.e. retitling assets to be held in trust and coordinating beneficiary designations).
Probate & Estate Administration
Whether a loved one passed away "intestate" (i.e. without a will), or "testate" (with a will), it is very likely that his or her estate will need to be handled in some fashion. In some cases, an estate can be settled without court involvement, but when there are creditors or multiple beneficiaries or heirs, the estate will undergo probate or estate administration. Depending on the facts of each case, we represent clients in the following types of matters:
- Uncontested Probate of Self-Proved or non-Self-Proved Wills
- Uncontested Heirship Determination & Indepdent Estate Administration
- Affidavit of Heirship
- Small Estate Affidavit
In addition to attending court hearings (when required), we work with clients to fulfill their duties in the course of settling the estate.
