April Gatlin Explains the Importance of Estate Planning
How do you want your legacy to be remembered? Have you thought about what happens if the unthinkable occurs? Our estate planning and probate lawyers have helped serve many clients with their Estate Planning needs.
What is estate planning?
Estate planning is defined as the instructions for estate asset disbursement to heirs at the owner/author’s death. This includes drawing up a will, setting up trusts, and gifting property. It is such an important topic because no matter how small your estate may be, planning ensures that your property and assets will go to the people you choose and care about the most after death.
What happens to your assets if you do not have a will?
When someone dies without a will, they are said to have died intestate. While each state has specific intestacy laws to help determine where one’s assets go, as a general rule, intestacy laws favor your spouse and your children by giving them your entire estate after passing. If you do not have a spouse or children, then the intestacy law works to distribute your estate to other close relatives. It is not only important for you to have your estate planning documents in place; it also helps your loved ones properly take control of your assets upon death.
Estate Planning that Focuses on Your Needs
It is always easy to find a reason to put off making crucial decisions about how your estate should be handled. You may not believe that your estate is sufficiently complex to need a will. You may simply not know where to start or what you need to build an effective estate plan. Our firm is here to help individuals and couples with all of their estate planning and probate issues. No matter the size or complexity of the estate, our decades of combined experience allow us to offer tailored solutions that will give you peace of mind and confidence about the future.Tailored Estate Plans
The key to successful estate planning is ensuring that the plan reflects the circumstances of the estate. We work hard to get to know what you want, what you need and all of the details that will be a part of any estate plan. By getting to know you and what you want to achieve, we can construct a plan that serves your needs. We will examine your situation and suggest all appropriate estate planning tools, including:- Wills
- Trusts
- Powers of attorney
- Advance directives
- Living wills
