Estate Planning Services
While it is impossible to plan completely for everything that will happen at a person's death, there are a number of ways to make the process smoother and more predictable. If at all possible, this is best done while health is relatively good, memory and mental capacity are still clear and before any crisis is looming which could cloud judgment. That is not always possible, however, and under less than ideal circumstances, a plan can often be put together. Still, it is always best to start planning early and review existing plans regularly.
The goal of all estate planning should be the transfer of a person's property in the simplest manner possible that still carries out that person's full intent. The challenge often arises in attempting to plan for unexpected events that may occur between the preparation of the instruments and the time of death. As the saying goes, it is difficult to make predictions, particularly about the future. Good estate planning addresses reasonable contingencies without undue complexity, which is always something of a balancing act.
There are a variety of tools used in the planning process such as wills, trusts, advanced directives and the like. Depending on individual circumstances, different tools may be appropriate for different situations. Please contact me to set a time to come talk about your particular situation.