- ESTATE LAW
Wills
A Will is a legal document that outlines your wishes and provides a plan for how they will be carried out.
A Will can establish:
- Who will receive the assets of your estate
- Who will be in charge of your estate
- The guardian for your minor children
- A testamentary trust
Trust
A living Trust is a document that you set up while you are alive. It is a mechanism that provides for yourself and your spouse during your lifetime and thereafter and a plan for the distribution of your estate to your designated beneficiaries. Trusts also provide a means of distribution of your assets without the intervention of the Court and also can achieve a tax savings in certain circumstances.
Probate
This is the legal process in which a will is reviewed to determine whether it is valid and authentic. Probate is also used to administer the estate of a deceased person without a Will. Probate involves the oversight of the Court to insure that the estate is administered in a manner that is consistent with the decedent’s intentions and also in conformity with the law. We help the estate representative navigate the probate process to obtain a distribution of the estate as quickly and as efficiently as possible.
Will and Trust Drafting
We can set up a new Will or Trust or draft modifications to an established Will or Trust. Since these documents can be challenged, a major advantage of using a lawyer is to make sure they are properly drafted. Trusts and Wills have important tax , probate and personal consequences. An experienced estate-planning attorney can help you avoid the possibility of costly ramifications in the future. We take care of the details so you can focus on the big picture – taking care of your family.
Will and Trust Contest and Defense
Contesting or defending a Will or Trust can be an expensive legal process. Our focus is on achieving the best possible outcome in the quickest, least expensive way. Our extensive experience in this area results in a more efficient management of your case so that we avoid unnecessary, expensive and time-consuming maneuvers. Not only does this save you unnecessary expenses, but it can spare you the emotional toll of a protracted law suit.
Durable Power of Attorney
This is a document that gives a person the legal authority to act on your behalf. A Power of Attorney enables other people to make financial or healthcare decisions for you if you become unable to make such decisions for yourself. It is important to appoint someone that you trust to make those decisions when you are unable to.
Conservatorship
This is a Court process where one person is appointed to be the decision-maker and manage the financial affairs for another person. Whether it is beneficial to pursue or avoid a Conservatorship, we can evaluate your situation and help pursue options best fit for your situation.
Elder Abuse
Many elderly people across the U.S. suffer abuse at the hands of friends, sales people, financial services employees and even family members. Elder abuse can come in many forms. State law defines Elder Abuse as physical abuse, neglect, financial abuse (improper use of an elder’s funds, property or assets), abandonment, isolation, abduction (taking the person out of the state against his or her will), or other behavior that causes an elder physical harm, pain, or mental suffering. The law is there to keep our seniors safe and healthy and to punish abusers.