Estate Planning Services
Each estate plan is unique. Regardless of whether your particular plan is straightforward or complicated, all services are designed with one goal in mind: functional documents that are clear and effective. Explore the most common documents below or contact me to discuss a comprehensive estate plan.
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Last Will and Testament
A Last Will and Testament is typically the central piece of an estate plan. It sets forth how your assets are to be distributed, it nominates an executor who will be responsible for effecting the terms of the Will and it appoints a guardian to care for minor children in the event that the other parent is not able to.
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Trusts
A trust is a relationship among people whereby one person (the trustee) agrees to hold property for the benefit of a third party (the beneficiary) at the request of the person creating the trust (the grantor or settlor). There are a variety of different types of trusts, but the two most common types are Revocable Trusts, which often take the place of a Will and are designed to protect assets for future generations, and Irrevocable Trusts, which are often used for asset protection and estate tax planning.
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Power of Attorney
A power of attorney is a document appointing an agent to act on your behalf with respect to your finances. This document is only effective during your life — the agent’s authority terminates immediately upon your death — but it enables your agent to manage your finances in the event that you are incapacitated or not otherwise able to do so on your own.
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Health Care Proxy
A health care proxy is a document appointing an agent to act on your behalf with respect to your health care decisions. This document authorizes your agent to make health care decisions for you in the event that you are not able to make these decisions on your own due to your incapacity.
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Living Will
A living will is a document that sets forth your end-of-life wishes. This document typically advises your doctors as to what kinds of treatments (including life sustaining measures) you would and would not like to receive.
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Guardianship Nomination
A guardianship nomination is a document that can be used to appoint a guardian for your minor children in the event that you are alive but not able to care for your children (guardianship provisions in the event of death are usually included in the Will). A guardianship nomination can also be used to appoint a guardian to manage your own personal needs and finances in the event you become disabled or incapacitated and cannot handle your own affairs.