What is Estate Planning?
At Dayes Law Firm, one of the services we offer is estate planning. This can be a tough topic to discuss, but it is extremely important to determine how your assets should be distributed after your death. The process ensures that your loved ones know your wishes and are able to follow them, and it makes the legal approach regarding those assets potentially less complicated.
What is Estate Planning, Exactly?
According to the American Bar Association, generally, “Estate planning covers the transfer of property at death as well as a variety of other personal matters.” It can involve everything from wills, to revocable living trusts, to probate, to retirement planning, and more.
Estate planning, sometimes called legacy planning, helps ensure a smooth transition of assets and responsibilities regarding your care toward the end of your life and after your death. Contrary to popular belief, it is not just for the wealthy with major assets to sort out – estate planning is a good idea for everyone, and getting an attorney involved is usually the right move for most people, too.
Major estate planning tasks can include everything from working out funeral arrangements to updating beneficiaries on life insurance and 401(k)s, as well as establishing donations or other gifts. These are things the average person will likely need to work out, and are certainly not tasks that only the very wealthy need to be concerned with
What Does an Estate Planning Attorney Do?
Generally speaking, estate planning attorneys help individuals plan the distribution of their assets after they pass away. But in reality, they do so much more than that.
Estate planning lawyers help with legacy planning, wills, trusts, retirement, probate, gift taxation, life insurance, and many other legal documents and processes. They can help you establish beneficiaries, prepare a will, work with you on power of attorney (POA) establishment, and more.
Most importantly, while an estate planning attorney can help you with all the legal and technical parts of the estate planning process, they are also there to advocate for you and make sure your wishes will be followed. They can offer advice on some very difficult topics, and will always work to ease your fears around legacy planning.
It is essential to have your estate planning worked out and to update your preferences and assets as needed. An estate planning attorney can help you with those processes and tailor your options to your unique circumstances.
How Dayes Law Firm Can Help
Dayes Law Firm PC is a team of dedicated legal professionals that specializes in estate planning and many tax resolution services. We would be honored to assist you with legacy planning and to advocate for you based on your individual needs and the needs of your loved ones.
Please call our offices today at (800) 503-2000 for a free, no-obligation consultation to see how our team can help. We want to help give you peace of mind when it comes to estate planning – contact us today to learn more.
