No matter your net worth, it’s important to have a basic estate plan in place. Such a plan ensures that your family and financial goals are met after you die or if you become incapacitated.

An estate plan has several elements. They include:

• a will
• powers of attorney
• a living will
• healthcare proxy (medical power of attorney)
• Authorization for Disclosure of Protected Health Information
• And, for most people, a Trust also makes sense.

When putting together a plan, you must be mindful of both federal and state laws governing estates.

Probate
When an individual dies with or without a Will, assets in his or her name alone cannot be distributed without court permission. Our attorneys and paralegals are extremely qualified to represent executors, administrators and trustees from the preparation of the estate petition through the formal or informal settlement of the estate accounting and the distribution of assets to beneficiaries. This representation also includes the resolution of any and all issues involving creditors and beneficiaries and the preparation of estate and fiduciary income tax returns.