estate planning

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Our team will help you specify your wishes for your property and assets, and make the execution of those wishes as simple as possible. A Will can serve as a way to identify your Executor of your estate, appoint your wishes for the care of young children in the event of an accident, disinherit anyone who would otherwise inherit your assets by law, and allocate any wealth to your preferred charities and gifts.

Our attorneys can help you assess your unique situations and wishes to maximize the tax benefits and ease of transference upon your death. There are several options and types of trusts, and we work with our clients to find the best fit for their needs, family and businesses.

Brief overview of just a few types of trusts for consideration:

Revocable Trust

Also referred to as a living trust, revocable trusts are helpful in avoiding probate. The client transfers title of a property to the trust. The client remains the initial trustee of the trust and continues to be able to remove the property from the trust during his or her lifetime. This option is flexible, but offers ease of administration in the event of unexpected life changes or death.

Irrevocable Trust

An irrevocable trust is one that cannot be altered, changed, modified or revoked after its creation. Once a property is transferred to an irrevocable trust, no one, including the settlor, can take the property out of the trust. Depending on the particular terms of an irrevocable trust, these trusts help clients gift assets, offer asset protection, lower estate or income taxes, or can assist in obtaining government benefits.

Asset Protection Trust

This protective trust is an irrevocable trust that helps safeguard assets from any creditors claiming rights to payment upon your death. 

Charitable Trust

As part of an estate plan, some clients choose to include charitable giving to leave a legacy and lower taxation.

Special Needs Trust

A special needs trust helps to safeguard a special needs child or relative from losing any government benefits in the event of inheritance of assets or other receipt of funds, such as receipt of a settlement. In particular, parents of a disabled child can establish a special needs trust as part of their general estate plan and not worry that their child will be prevented from receiving benefits when they are not present to care for the child. Disabled persons who expect an inheritance or other large sum of money may establish a special needs trust themselves, provided that another person or entity is named as trustee.

The laws for power of attorney are specific for each state, and our team can help you execute the best fit for your family to care for your loved ones. 

There are several circumstances and types of power of attorney (POA) that can help care for your loved ones when they aren't able to advocate for themselves or take care of their affairs.

For Healthcare

A POA for healthcare is often accompanied with a Living Will and gives your medical professionals your wishes for healthcare in the event you are mentally or physically unable to express your wishes for treatment. In this document, you appoint an agent to advocate in your stead for your care. You can also direct which life saving measures be executed if you are at the end of your life. 

This directive gives you control in advance of an accident or untimely health incident, and opens conversation to express your wishes for end of life or long term care.

For Financial

A financial POA lets you direct who you want and expect to make your financial decisions in the event that you are unable to do so. This is an important document that can help avoid a Conservatorship in the event of incapacity.

For a Child

Circumstances may arise that your child's care will need to be allocated to another adult for an extended period. These may include, work assignments, military deployment, health treatment programs, incarceration or extended vacations or work assignments.

This power of attorney would allow your designated agent the same decision making power as their guardian in your absence.