No one likes to think about dying, much less planning for it. But if you care about your family and leaving a legacy of love rather than pain and confusion, estate planning is a must.
Designed to preserve your wishes and protect your loved ones, the estate planning process puts a variety of helpful legal tools at your disposal:
Will – a will spells out your personal wishes about the disposition of your assets. Without it, the state will decide.
Trusts – you can avoid probate through the establishment of trusts and assignment of asset ownership.
Tax Planning – there are legal alternatives available to reduce or avert federal taxes on your estate.
Trust Administration – an experienced trust attorney can help you navigate through the state’s trust administration process, saving you and your family from stress and potentially expensive errors.
Guardianship – appointing a guardian ensures a minor child’s person and/or property and other assets are fully protected.
Charitable Gift Planning – designating gifts to charity can help you reduce federal estate taxes as well as lower income capital gains taxes.
Family Business Succession Planning – developing a plan for a successful transfer that won’t adversely impact the business or important family relationships.
