your Estate Planning solution

You have worked too hard in your life to have your family members split on how to divide what you worked so hard to acquire.  Instead of leaving heartache for your loved ones, provide them the direction they need to send you off in peace.  A carefully constructed estate plan could mean all the difference in keeping your family together after you are gone.  Additionally, you don't want to force your family to have to pay exorbitant legal and court fees by a drawn out court process.  Start planning for tomorrow, so you focus on living today.

* Nothing on this page is legal advice, neither does it create an attorney-client relationship of any sort.  The material contained here is for informational purposes only.  Contact us for real legal advice and an opportunity to form a relationship with great attorneys.

Wills

A last will and testament is a legal document that lets you, the testator (the person making the will), designate individuals or charities to receive your property and possessions when you pass away. These individuals and charities are commonly referred to as beneficiaries in your last will. A last will also allows you to name a guardian to care for minor children. The main purpose of a will is to ensure that the testator's wishes, and not the default laws of the state, will be followed upon the testator's death.

Trust

A living trust (sometimes called an "inter vivos" or "revocable" trust) is a written legal document through which your assets are placed into a trust for your benefit during your lifetime and then transferred to designated beneficiaries at your death by your chosen representative, called a "successor trustee."  A testamentary trust is simply any trust that arises on death through a will. As all other trusts, a testamentary trust creates a legal relationship between the settlor of the trust (in this case the deceased person or  "testator"), the trustee (who is often the executor of the will but who could also be a separately named trustee under the will) and the beneficiaries of the trust (family members or other individual beneficiaries or charities).

Powers Of Attorney

A legal power of attorney names an agent who is given total freedom to act as the person who appointed him/her within the powers granted by the person.  An immediate power of attorney means the person has the powers granted to them upon signing it.  A springing power of attorney means the power is triggered by some event.  Depending on where you live, you may or may not be able to use a springing power of attorney.  If not, it may make sense to not deliver the power of attorney to the individual until the event occurs.  Powers of attorney can cover many things, including finances and health care.

advanced directives

Advance directives are legal documents that allow you to spell out your decisions about end-of-life care ahead of time. They give you a way to tell your wishes to family, friends, and health care professionals and to avoid confusion later on.