We receive numerous questions daily about the complex world of estate planning, probates, and trusts. Of course, the best way to answer your personal question would be to have an assessment made of your particular estate, but here are a few questions we get quite frequently that may help you:

What does it mean to plan an estate?

Estate planning means that you’ve decided to protect your family from the difficult decisions that might arise after your death. Complicated finances coupled with any real estate or investments may put undue stress on your family in an already stressful time in their lives – the loss of their family member. We help you organize your financial records and efficiently help you decide how to split up your assets among your family, whether a trust might be a good decision, and avoid the highest taxes. Estate planning is a very smart decision for a difficult and emotional time for your family.

Why do I need a Will?

Most people don’t understand that a Will can save the pain and heartache that allowing the state to probate your estate without one can cause. Successfully assessing your estate for tax liabilities and resolving any real estate liens before your death will result in your family receiving what you planned for them to receive; when a state probates your estate without a Will, your estate will be reduced through the highest taxation rates, and your family may end up owing the state and federal government instead of receiving your gifts to them.

I’d like to create a Living Will. Can you help me with that?

Absolutely. A legal Advanced Medical Directive will help your family in a very serious and sad time. Only you can decide what you believe will retain your dignity in a humane way in the case of a permanent disability or terminal illness. We can help you decide which situations you might like to provide directives for, as well as any conditional instances that you may decide to have life-prolonging assistance.

Can’t I really do this myself?

Of course, you can do this yourself. Organizing your estate is a fairly simple way to get started but you may decide that after you’ve gotten organized that it’s quite confusing. Tax laws alone can sideline the progress of your planning. We also have all of the legal documents you might need, and can make sure that the language in your documents will legally read correctly, to make what you want to happen a reality.

How do attorneys charge for these kinds of services?

There are several ways an attorney might charge for these services. The most usual are fixed fees and hourly fees, but may also include retainer fees and contingency fees when litigation proceedings are appropriate. Probate costs are regulated by the state, and cannot be changed by the lawyer or law firm you use. Regardless of the method of charge, you should ask that all fees are shown to you before you begin your estate planning service, and agree upon the method that works for your particular needs.