What Should You Include in Your Custom Estate Plan?

Estate Planning is a comprehensive area of legal practice under which a legal professional can assist you in planning to make sure your wishes are followed after your death, that your family is spared unnecessary costs and that someone will have authority to manage your affairs in the event you can no longer manage them yourself.
Estate planning may include drafting such documents as:

• Wills—a document that establishes an executor to manage your estate after your death and to collect your assets, pay any outstanding debts out of your estate and distribute your property according to your written instructions. A will may also be used to nominate a guardian for any minor children;
• Living Will—a document that sets out your desires with regard to end of life medical treatment;
• Durable Power of Attorney for Property—a document that authorizes and agent to act on your behalf in managing your property and finances in the event you are not able to do so yourself;
• Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care—a document that nominates an agent to act on your behalf with regard to health care decisions in the event you are no longer able to make those decisions for yourself; and
• Trusts—various types of documents that establish a “trust” under which property is managed by a trustee (which may be the “settlor”, the person creating the trust, or another named person or entity). Trusts may be revocable or irrevocable, depending on the need, and they are often used for the purpose of avoiding certain types of tax or to avoid probate upon your death.

You can make an appointment by calling 217-849-0017.