ESTATE PLANNING

“We cannot hold mortality's strong hand."

King John, Act iv. Sc. 2., Shakespeare 

Estate planning is preparing in advance for death and incapacity.  Death is inevitable. Incapacity is not, but in many cases can be more complicating than death.  Both are worth planning for to make life better for you, for those you care for, and for those who care about you.  

Everything that you own must pass to others when you die.  Therefore, these are the two compelling questions of estate planning:  

(1) Who would you like to receive your assets when you die?

(2) If you died today, would your assets pass the way you want them to?  Are you sure?  

Death is never convenient.  Even a well-planned death, at a minimum, entails many administrative headaches, and often even a well-planned death usually entails more headaches (and heartaches) than anyone had anticipated.  Good estate planning reduces those difficulties and complications and also makes it more likely that your goals are realized when you are no longer here to see that they are accomplished.  

When you meet with us for estate planning, we will sit down together and go over what you own and what you would like to happen with what you own after you die. Every client is different and needs personal attention to the situation of their life, their goals, and their preferences.  Some people need to make special provision for their spouses, their children, other family members, or other matters that are peculiar to their life and circumstances.  These goals are the basic material from which a good estate planner designs a plan that addresses the needs of a particular client.    

When we meet, we can discuss whether a trust is the best option for you as well as other documents fit to deal with the risk of your becoming incapacitated, such as a durable power of attorney, living will, and designation of health care surrogate.