Estate Planning

Planning for your unique family and financial goals

Planning for your unique family and financial goals

Wills


Wills can help clarify for your family how things should be handled at a difficult time. They don’t just specify who inherits your estate. They also are a way for you to choose the people you trust to make decisions for you after you’re gone, and for you to express your intentions for your family and your resources when you are not there yourself. We will work with you to create a Will and estate plan that minimizes taxes and expenses, as well as stress to your loved ones. We will also help you evaluate whether your estate plan should include a trust or trusts, whether for tax savings, protecting your children or achieving other goals. We can help you evaluate whether you should have a trust or trusts in your Will, which is called a testamentary trust, or if a Living Trust is more appropriate for your needs. Whether in a Will or a Living Trust, your plan can include marital trusts, such as “QTIP” trusts and credit shelter trusts, as well as trusts for children and Special Needs Trusts. We also consult with our clients regarding ways to avoid probate, such as community property agreements, beneficiary designations, joint accounts and transfer on death deeds, where appropriate. These methods can save expense and stress in some situations, but can also undermine your estate plan, so we advise that they be used with caution.