Estate Planning Is Crucial For All Stages Of Life

People often mistake estate planning as a tool only for the wealthy or elderly. The truth, however, is that estate planning and its related areas of law may span a great portion of a person’s lifetime. You may need to start or amend your estate plan if you experience any of the following situations:

• Birth or adoption of a child
• Blending of two families
• The death of someone named in your will or trust
• A move to another state
• Divorce
• Retirement
• A child gets married or is in an unstable marriage
• Business succession planning
• The receipt of an inheritance

You will also want to ensure your estate plan is up to date with changes in the law.

As is true for any legal issue, it is best to begin estate planning as soon as the need arises. Our experienced lawyers are here to help you get started today.

Helping You Make Sense Of Elder Law And Long-Term Care Planning

Receiving the proper counsel in elder law matters is a critical part of planning for your long-term care and eligibility for public benefits (Medicaid) to pay for that care. With our experience, we can clearly explain how Medicaid and long-term planning can work together to provide for your long-term care. We will demystify the myriad of rules of Medicaid for long-term care benefits. One of our goals for long-term care planning is to see if you qualify for public benefits to pay for this type of care. As you look ahead to retirement, you want to know that you and your family are taken care of and that you have protected assets for your spouse. Our knowledgeable elder law attorneys can create a strategy specifically for you so that you have the optimal plan in place.

Simplifying Probate And Trust Administration

Many people want to avoid probate because it can be time-consuming, expensive and not private, as the probate files are public court records. To keep your estate out of the probate process, you can plan ahead with our estate planning attorneys. We can help you determine whether trusts and beneficiary designations will eliminate the need for probate.

If you need help getting a loved one’s estate through the probate process, it is usually best to work with an attorney. There are numerous steps to complete, and the process can take months. We assist executors and representatives of estates to ensure that the process is completed in as timely and efficient a manner as possible. In addition, we can advise trustees about the trust administration and their duties and responsibilities.

Planning Ahead With A Special Needs Trust Or ABLE Account

If you have a child with special needs, you can create a special needs trust or open an Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) account to plan for their future. These legal tools allow beneficiaries with disabilities to take advantage of public assistance programs while also utilizing the funds in the trust or account. This can be very important for their future well-being and can provide enormous peace of mind for their parents and loved ones.

We Can Make Uncontested Guardianships Go Smoothly

Whether you are the parent of a child receiving an inheritance or are seeking guardianship of a vulnerable adult, you will likely benefit from experienced legal guidance throughout the process. These can be emotional, challenging situations for everyone involved. We understand what you are going through and strive to help you meet these challenges and move through them.

You Can Move Forward With A Trusted Lawyer On Your Side

To learn more about how you can benefit from our compassion and experience in any of these areas of law, please call 603-610-1580 or complete our contact form. We look forward to hearing from you.