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Estate Planning
Planning for your estate is planning for the future.
Thinking about estate planning now will help you protect your assets, avoid undesired probate and publicity, facilitate plans to your loved ones, and minimize tax issues. There is no one-size-fits-all plan. We are here to help you choose the best one.
Trusts
A trust is a document that outlines your wishes both during life and after death. The benefit of a trust is that you can edit or change parts of it and those changes take effect during your lifetime.
Wills and Probate Administration
A will functions as your final wishes regarding your property and the guardianship of your children. In addition to helping you set up a will, we also work as probate administrators. What this means is we will act as a representative of your estate and will distribute your assets according to the will.
Trusts
A trust is a fiduciary relationship which means one person or entity acts on behalf of another. In other words, a trust is set up so that your assets are protected by a third party.
Trusts function both while a person is alive as well as after they have passed. The benefit of this is you can change or revise your trust at any point, and it will take effect during your lifetime.
There are many types of trusts for a variety of different needs. When we have established your needs, desires, and budget, we will work with you to determine the right type of trust.
Types of Trusts
- Revocable Living Trust: places assets into a trust which will be distributed after death.
- Asset Protection Trust: protects an individual's or business's assets from creditors.
- Spendthrift Trust: restrict a loved one's access to their assets if they cannot control their own finances
- Pet Trust: make plans for your animal's care.
- Gun Trust: outline your wishes for your guns and other firearms.
- Special Needs Trust: allows physically or mentally disabled loved ones to access additional funds.
Wills and Probate Administration
Wills
A will or ‘will and testament' is a document that details your wishes regarding your assets as well as your minority children after you have passed. You can also make monetary donations and establish funds for your child's education. The document is essentially a list of instructions that is carried out by someone who you choose as your representative.
If you do not have a will at the time of your death, your assets will be handed over to the state who will then decide how to distribute them.
Probate Administration
Probate is the court process that involves handing over a deceased person's assets to the will's named representative.
If you do not wish you nominate a family member or loved one as representative of your will, we will act as probate administrator. This involves the effective management of the will and distribution of assets as well as ensuring all creditors are paid.