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Estate Planning
Summary
Estate planning is personal.
It is about families, futures, and peace of mind. We guide clients through the sensitive and important decisions that estate planning requires.
Whether you’re drafting your first will, creating a trust for your family, establishing powers of attorney, or preparing for long-term care, we provide the clarity and compassion needed to protect what matters most.
You don't need to handle estate planning on your own. We get you through the hard stuff.
What Estate Planning Covers
Estate planning is often misunderstood as a single document or a simple checklist. In reality, it is a group of legal tools that work together to address different situations that can arise during life and after death.
A well-structured estate plan clarifies who can act on your behalf if you are unable to do so, how your assets should be handled, and how much court involvement your family may face. The right approach depends on your circumstances, your family, and your goals, not on a template.
The Building Blocks of an Estate Plan
Most estate plans involve a combination of documents rather than just one. A will is often the starting point. It sets out how assets are distributed after death and allows you to name the person responsible for handling your estate. For parents, it also provides a way to name guardians for minor children.
Trusts are another common tool. Depending on how they are structured, trusts can be used to manage assets during your lifetime, avoid probate, and control how property is distributed over time. Some trusts remain flexible and revocable, while others are designed to be permanent and protective.
Powers of attorney are focused on your lifetime. These documents allow someone you trust to handle financial or healthcare decisions if you are unable to do so yourself. Without them, families are often forced to seek court involvement at already difficult moments.
Advance healthcare planning addresses medical decisions. These documents help ensure your wishes are known and give someone clear authority to speak on your behalf if you cannot.
Estate planning also involves understanding how assets move outside of a will. Retirement accounts, life insurance policies, and payable-on-death accounts follow beneficiary designations that must be coordinated with the rest of your plan to avoid unintended results.
Probate and Probate Avoidance
Probate is the court-supervised process used to administer an estate after death. Some plans are designed to minimize or avoid probate altogether. Others focus on making the process more efficient and predictable when probate cannot be avoided.
Whether probate is a concern depends on the types of assets you own and how they are titled. Estate planning allows you to make informed decisions about how much court involvement makes sense in your situation.
Our Approach to Estate Planning
Estate planning should be clear and intentional. Our focus is on helping clients understand their options and make decisions that reflect their priorities.
We emphasize coordination between documents, clarity in how assets are handled, and plans that are practical rather than unnecessarily complex. The goal is not to create more paperwork than needed, but to create a plan that works when it matters.
Who Estate Planning Is For
Estate planning is not limited to a specific stage of life. It is relevant for individuals planning for the first time, parents with young children, homeowners, business owners, and anyone concerned about incapacity or long-term planning.
If you want control over how decisions are made and how assets are handled, estate planning is worth considering.
Starting the Process
Estate planning often begins with a conversation. That conversation helps clarify what tools may be appropriate and what steps make sense moving forward.
If you are considering estate planning or reviewing an existing plan, scheduling a consultation is a straightforward way to begin.
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