Estate planning is a difficult topic. No one wants to think about the end of life, but it’s a necessary step to take to protect the ones you love. Without proper estate planning, you’ll have no control over how your possessions are distributed after your death. Your estate can be subject to more taxes, leaving your loved ones with less. And if the unexpected happens, leaving you unable to make your own healthcare decisions, your family will have no guidance from you about your wishes.
Having an estate plan can allow you to protect your family and can give you peace of mind. It’s important for everyone to have an estate plan, no matter your income or property.
At Wallace Spalding Law Office, we offer the guidance you need to help you determine which estate planning options are right for your unique situation and wishes. Is a simple will enough to cover your needs? Or do you need a trust? We’ll let you know. Our experienced, understanding estate planning lawyers can help you navigate the often complex process of estate planning.
We’ll work with you to create the estate planning documents that are right for you, including:
- Will: We help you create a Will (or “Last Will and Testament”), a legal document that outlines how you want your possessions distributed and who will become the guardian of any minor children you have.
- Living Trust: We help you create a revocable Living Trust, which is a complete will substitute that controls all of your assets both during your life and after your death. We assist you in transferring the title of all your assets (stocks, bonds, real estate, etc.) from your name to the name of the trust. We will then name you as the trustee and beneficiary, giving you, and you alone, complete control of all your assets.
- Living Will (or durable Power of Attorney for health care): We help you create a Living Will, a legal document that gives directions to physicians and family members regarding decisions about your health care in the event that you are unable to make those decisions yourself (because of severe injury, illness, or incapacitation).
- Power of Attorney: We assist and advise you in creating a durable Power of Attorney, a legal document which allows a spouse or anyone else of your choice to sign documents and handle affairs for you. (This document is particularly helpful if mental or physical disability prevents a person from managing his/her own affairs.)
Before you start estate planning, it helps to talk to an experienced, knowledgeable attorney about your options. Call or email us today to learn how we can help you plan for the future.
