ESTATE PLANNING SERVICES

Begin with a free consultation to determine which estate plan is best for your goals and your budget.

Trusts are quickly becoming a preferred estate planning tool for those who wish to protect their estate in a way which is confidential and cost-effective.  Many people choose to use a trust as the centerpiece of their estate plan because a well-drafted trust can avoid the time and expense of probate, while simplifying the process of distributing your estate.

When most people think of an "estate plan," a will is usually the first thing that comes to mind.  A will is a set of instructions that you want to be carried out after you pass away.  For some people, a will remains the best option for estate protection.  This can be particularly important when you have young children.  Any comprehensive estate plan should include a will, whether it is the primary document or the will is simply a support document for a trust.  

Who do you want to make healthcare or end-of-life decisions for you if you are not able to make those decisions for yourself?  A Power of Attorney for Healthcare could be the most important document that you will ever sign, because it designates the person or people to whom you grant the authority to make these life or death decisions on your behalf.  

If you ever develop an illness or suffer an injury in which you are unable to make decisions for yourself, who will step into your shoes to make sure that bills are paid and your affairs are managed appropriately?  A Power of Attorney for Property ensures that the person or people that you designate to manage your affairs will be able to fulfill this role with the necessary legal documentation.  

One of the most common mistakes that people make when creating an estate plan is to neglect their beneficiary designations in their existing retirement accounts.  We work with every client to make sure that your entire estate plan works together, and that your retirement accounts will be distributed to your beneficiaries in a manner that is consistent with your wishes.  

Aside from the documents listed above, some people may have specific wishes for their estate plans which may necessitate additional documents such as a living will, advance directive, or a childcare plan.  We will work with you to make sure that your estate plan protects all of the people in your life, as well as it protects all of the things that you wish to pass on to them.