During your lifetime, you will own assets. When you die, your “estate” will include everything you own. This could mean the obvious tangible things such as a home, car, bank accounts, retirement accounts, collections, and intangible items such as digital assets or intellectual property.
Estate planning is the process of deciding what to do with your assets upon death. It usually includes a comprehensive package of documents that have been prepared based upon your individual estate plan purpose. The documents are designed for protection of you, your loved ones, and family. These documents typically could include a Living Will, Revocable Trust, Power of Attorney, Healthcare Surrogate, or other legal document like for Final Arrangements.
Estate planning not only provides the ability to direct how property will be distributed after your death but it also affords the opportunity to decide how assets will be managed if you become incapacitated or for whatever reason are unable to do so yourself. By way of example, if you die without a will, the State will decide on someone to administer your estate. This single decision could result in additional expenses charged against your estate property.
We strongly recommend consulting an attorney that practices estate planning for the drafting and review of these legal documents such as a Will. We would caution you on using “Will Kits” or online document preparation companies. First, they are not able to provide legal advice. Only an attorney could provide legal advice. Wills are governed by state law, which often changes. Most of the online document preparation Wills are drafted to be generally used in multiples states. The execution of a Will in Florida or Texas, for example, is specific for its validity. If a Will is not properly executed in Florida, it will have the same effect as not having a Will according to the Florida Probate Court.
Our Estate Planning Services include:
- Last Will & Testament
- Trusts
- Powers of Attorney
- Living Will
- Healthcare Surrogate
- Final Arrangements
- Special Needs Trusts
- And more!
