What is Estate Planning?
Estate Planning is the process of planning for the disposal and management of a person’s assets in the case of incapacity or death. Doing your estate planning early is one of the greatest love acts a person can do for their family, because, let’s face it, tomorrow is not promised. Estate Planning usually consists of a Trust, Last Will and Testament, Durable Power of Attorney, Advance Healthcare Directive, and other directives. At your free Estate Planning Consultation, your attorney will go over each of these documents with you.

Who needs Estate Planning?
The simple answer is that everyone needs Estate Planning. You may not become incapacitated during your life, but you will certainly one day perish and will need to provide for the disposition of your assets. Each estate plan is unique to the person who creates it. Our firm does not take a one-size-fits-all approach to Estate Planning. We listen to our client’s goals and concerns.

Most of our client’s desires are to make the process as smooth as possible for their loved ones to deal with and to keep their assets out of probate. (You can read more about probate on my “What is Probate?” blog.) Another common reason is to plan for leaving assets to minor children or to protect your beneficiaries from themselves, their spouses, and so on.

Those who should especially consider having an estate plan are those with minor children, who are in subsequent marriages and have children from prior marriages, and who wish to exclude someone from inheriting their estate.

Do I need an attorney to do Estate Planning?
No, you do not need an attorney to do your Estate Planning. There is no such requirement. However, saying the law is complex cannot be overstated. Our attorneys have seen many pitfalls when someone does DIY Estate Planning documents and even deeds. Words matter, and even the placement of a comma sometimes matters.

There are many online legal platforms as well, but as stated before, Estate Planning is not a one-size-fits-all approach.

Our attorneys went to school for seven extra years and took a rigorous bar exam in order to be able to assist clients with Estate Planning.

If you would like to schedule your free Estate Planning consultation with an attorney, please call 941-748-0550.

Disclaimer: This blog post is general guidance and should not be substituted for legal advice. This blog post does not create an attorney-client relationship.