The Process
You may have several planning objectives, family relations and dynamics, and varieties of assets that need to be addressed in the process.
Other objectives may include lifetime gifting or bequests at death; protection of loved ones through asset management especially for those who are under age or incapacitated, spendthrifts, or those who are or may become eligible for means tested governmental benefits; e.g., Special Needs Planning; minimizing death taxes and income taxes for survivors; and charitable giving.
Planning for different family relationships can be simple or complex especially in the case of some blended families. You may have aspirations for your children and grandchildren that you want to promote; or there are situations where family relationships have broken down and are difficult.
Assets include those with money value such as homes, farms, businesses, retirement accounts or those with sentimental and family history values. Estate planning may include helping with the transition of management and ownership of a closely held business or family farm.
Throughout the estate planning process, we focus on understanding your objectives and situation; and that it is paramount that you understand what we propose, and how your plan and the documents we prepare will work.
Our approach to estate planning is to meet with and listen to you and then ask questions about your objectives, family relationships, assets and other things of interest to you. From this, we develop an integrated plan coordinating your lifetime and post-death wishes and objectives.
Our Objective Is To Help You Feel Relieved
We help you understand and feel comfortable with your estate planning decision.
We believe in people making informed and conscious choices. We help you to clarify your priorities and personal goals, to simplify the planning process, and help you control your legacy.
We take pride in our communication, to ensure families understand and feel comfortable about their estate planning decisions. We address your needs and issues of family dynamics to assure of your wishes are met now and in the future.
“Estate Planning” is a process bringing to bear a broad range of practical and professional legal knowledge and services to meet your lifetime, incapacity, end of life, and after death objectives. You may have several planning objectives, family relations and dynamics, and varieties of assets that need to be addressed in the estate planning process.
Stated objectives often start with financial protection of loved ones including your spouse, children, and future generations. But we never lose sight of the fact that you need to protect and provide for yourself as well during your lifetime and especially in the event of your incapacity. So, in addition to a Will, we recommend including Durable Powers of Attorney; Health Care Powers of Attorney; HIPAA Releases; Living Wills; and possibly a Living Trust as essential parts of the “estate planning” process.