Estate Planning
Helping people achieve the peace of mind that comes with planning for incapacity or death to ensure that their wishes will be carried out and their loved ones cared for.
Estate planning is more than just drafting a will or a trust. It is about planning for the transitions, such as death and disability, we all face as we grow old. While death or disability may be uncomfortable topics to discuss, it is important we do so in order to avoid uncertainty and family strife; to ensure the care of and avoid hardship to children and dependents; and to avoid unnecessary cost and wasted time while your loved ones are struggling with the emotions of loss.
We work with our clients collaboratively to create an estate plan that is tailor fit to their specific needs. Those needs may include some or all of the following,
- What to do with your assets after your death (or in some cases while you are still living); and Who is responsible for making sure that your wishes as to your assets are carried out. In planning for the distribution of those assets and who should be appointed to handle it we take into consideration issues such as: tax planning, ongoing care for minor children, children (or adult children) with special needs, mixed families, and care for pets to name a few.
- How to celebrate your life (or What to do with your body) after your death; and Who is responsible for making sure that your wishes are carried out
- Who is responsible for your care in the case of incapacity (both in your day to day life as well as end of life medical decisions) as well as what instructions should be given and How they are conveyed.
We draw on years of legal experience as well as our own personal experiences to help you craft your estate plan. That said, in helping our clients, we also recognize that we may not have the answer to every situation and as such we will partner with other professional colleagues in the community as needed to ensure that if your estate has unique issues, we find the best solution for you.
Finally, Estate Planning is not a static event in our lives. Lives go on, our circumstances change, the world changes. We remain available to our clients on an ongoing basis even after the estate plan has been drafted and signed. It is our goal to ensure that as life goes on, we are available to update your estate plan so that it evolves to meet your needs as they change over time.