ESTATE PLANNING THAT FITS INTO YOUR POCKET!
MASSACHUSETTS, CONNECTICUT, NEW YORK, & GEORGIA ESTATE PLANNING
WILLS & TRUSTS
Planning your estate does not need to involve headaches, stuffy unapproachable lawyers, and scheduling conflicts!
Estate planning is about much more than a simple Will. You need to plan for every asset, discuss every possible problem and plan for it! Good estate planning with an experienced lawyer allows you to be in charge of who owns and receives your property. Without the careful guidance of a lawyer, you may make mistakes. You may not even consider details, such as taxes, which are essential to planning an estate.
This ultimately means your property might not be distributed the way you want. You may lose all control.
If you have minor children, estate planning can make sure that they are provided for, both personally and financially, upon your death or incapacity.
Estates need to follow rigid state laws and statutes in order to be valid. This process can be daunting. Thinking about death and planning ahead for it can be emotionally exhausting. Let our firm assist you in handling your assets properly.
"If you're going to live, leave a legacy. Make a mark on the world that can't be erased.” - Maya Angelou
PEACE OF MIND PLANNING ONLINE
VIRTUAL REPRESENTATION WHEN AND WHERE YOU WANT IT!
Come to us for a solid and comprehensive estate plan and provide a smooth transition for your heirs.
SKIP THE COMMUTE TO A STUFFY LAW OFFICE IF YOU CHOOSE, AND PLAN IN YOUR PAJAMAS WITH AN EXPERT.
Whether you are looking for an in-person appointment in Connecticut or Massachusetts, or a more flexible virtual representation option anywhere in Georgia, New York, Massachusetts, or Connecticut, we are here to meet all of your needs when and where you need it!
Protect yourself and your loved ones over coffee, in your pajamas, from the comfort of your own home, or from your office during a lunch break!
Offices in Hartford County, Farmington, Connecticut, and Western Massachusetts, Westfield, Northampton, and Easthampton, Massachusetts
WILLS AND TRUSTS
WILLS
Everyone Needs A Will
Wills can help your loved ones know what you want to do with your belongings after you’re gone, even if this just includes your furniture or other household goods. Without it, your family members could spend time arguing amongst themselves instead of pulling together and mourning your loss. Additionally, when you have a legally binding document from an experienced attorney that spells out your wishes, your beneficiaries will be able to access your estate more quickly. Without a Will a stranger judge decides who is in charge and who gets what.
Use A Lawyer
Everyone has seen the commercials for DIY legal services. These documents may not be binding or they might not address your specific situation. If you want to be sure your documents are legally valid, have a lawyer draft the right type of documents for your individual situation. The benefits can save your loved ones a lot of heartache after you’re gone.
Don’t Forget To Name A Guardian
If you have children living at home and/or dependent on you, it’s vital that you name a guardian for them. If you’re married and both spouses die in an accident, the children could be placed into a state run foster home, especially if it takes a while to contact your next of kin. The judge in court will appoint who will raise your child if you don’t have a valid Will or your Will fails to identify who you want to act as guardian. Additionally, if you’re unmarried and living together, it’s important to name someone as guardian. An unmarried father may not automatically receive custody of his own children, especially if an aunt or grandparent contests the guardianship.
TRUSTS
You may want to consider putting a portion of your estate into a trust. If created properly and set up properly, Trusts help your loved ones avoid the probate court process if you have a disability and when you pass away.
It may also help to minimize estate taxes in states that have estate tax. Setting up a trust can allow your family to avoid uncertainty, extra expenses, and potential arguments and then they can focus on the emotion of the traumatic moment.
Trusts are highly customizable and when created correctly, they create incredible peace of mind. They are a tool unlike any other in the estate planning toolbox!
In order to set up a Trust, you will need legal guidance from lawyers with extensive experience like us. Please call us to speak with an attorney about how a Trust can help you and your loved ones.
SPECIAL NEEDS PLANNING & SPECIAL NEEDS TRUSTS
Guardianships, Power of Attorney, Health Care Proxies, Special Needs Trusts
Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), Medicaid, Medicare, food stamps and more. Get your eligibility questions answered.
Given your loved one’s circumstances, what would provide the right foundation for their independence, while ensuring their security and enabling parents to assist with important decisions? Will your child be able to work? Will they require full-time care? Where will they live? What sort of social life are they likely to want?
Our attorney with over 25 years of experience with individuals with disabilities can explain how a Special Needs Trust can be used to pay expenses without jeopardizing eligibility for important means-tested government programs.
We can discuss funding sources—insurance, investments, bequests—and the best way to accumulate the necessary assets to provide for the entire lifetime of your child.
We can also help families think through the “circle of support” that will be available to your child when parents can no longer act as caregivers.