Estate planning on your own can be complicated and costly. And the list is endless... state
taxes, bureaucracy, probate courts, unfair appraisals, health care concerns, eligibility of heirs, life insurance,
IRA's, 401K's, annuities, burial or cremation costs, and intent regarding death-postponing treatment to name a few. Not
knowing your legal and financial rights often ends up costing you more in the end.
Thoughts of estate planning often bring more questions than answers: Could an heir be too young to inherit? Should the inheritance be given at a certain age? Is the intended beneficiary in a shaky marriage with divorce as a possibility? Are there children from a previous marriage? Should inheritance be protected from potential creditors of the heir? Are there taxes that can be avoided? Are you able to avoid the probate court rules, delays, and costs? Who will raise your children should you and your spouse pass away? Do I even need estate planning?
Planning what happens to your estate when you're gone can seem frustrating and intimidating. You may feel that you're too young to care about estate planning. Or, perhaps the reminder of death makes you uncomfortable. You might be tempted to put the whole thing off, assuming that it will just take care of itself. In all cases, estate planning ends up saving your family lots of time, heartache and money.
Estate planning is not always complex. Many times estate planning can be dealt with in a properly prepared will. Estate planning can be simply retitling an asset. Or, simply do your plan in stages. The most important part of any estate plan is your will so do that first. Start with the basics and build from there.
Your estate plan will change as your personal and financial situation changes. Your estate planning should be reviewed whenever there is a major change in your circumstances and, at a minimum, every three years. Estate planning laws and regulations as well as planning techniques are constantly changing. You want to insure that your plan is up-to-date and is maximizing the benefits available to your loved ones.
And we can help.
Every estate planning situation is different. In order to help you, we want to know you, your unique situation, and the nature of your relationships. If you already have an estate attorney we will be happy to work with them. If you do not have one we will be happy to recommend one to you. We will be available throughout the process to further discuss any questions, change of circumstances, and alternatives.
No Excuses...
If you are unsure of your estate planning needs we can recommend attorneys that will meet with you for a free initial consultation. During the initial consultation you will be given recommendations as to how your desires should be best carried out. You will also be informed of the estimated costs associated with each plan and then, armed with that information, you can make a decision on how to proceed. Please contact us for more details.
We help you...
- Clearly define your estate planning goals.
- Organize and create your estate planning team (experts on law, finance, and taxes).
- Evaluate and recommend estate planning options.
- Help you to gather the necessary information to prepare an estate plan.
- Decrease the problems and expenses associated with probate.
- Lessen taxes at time of death.
- Arrange for management of your estate in the event you are incapacitated.
You also get help with...
- Living Wills and Trusts.
- Lifetime Family Wealth Transfers.
- Family partnerships and other business relationships.
- Leaving money to charities.
- Preparation for estate and trust tax problems.
The hassles and red tape associated with estate planning can be daunting, but you don't need to do it alone. We are waiting to assist you through every step of the process.
