Your family is your most valuable asset.  A properly drafted estate plan can ensure that your family is provided for in the event of death or disability.  Our attorneys will walk you through the various legal protections you need to protect your property and your family should anything ever happen to you.

For Parents:

• Rest assured that your children will be cared for in the event of your illness or death.
• Name short term guardians who have immediate authority to care for your children while your estate is being administered or until your long term guardians can be located.
• Name long term guardians to raise your children with the same values you have.
• Leave instructions to both short term and long term guardians detailing your wishes for your children.
• Name health care agents for your minor children if you will be out of town and need to leave your children in the care of someone else.
• Name a trustee to manage property that will go to your minor children at your death. If no trustee is named, the property will be managed by the court and your child’s guardian will have limited access to the funds you intended to be available for your child’s care.

For Unmarried Couples:

• Unmarried couples don’t have the same protections that married couples have. Make sure your loved one is provided for at your death.
• Execute Powers of Attorney and Health Care Powers of Attorney that allow your partner to make financial and medical decisions for you if you become sick or disabled.

For Persons With Disabilities:

• Create a care plan for your disabled child or spouse after your death.
• Provide for the supplemental needs of your disabled child or spouse without jeopardizing their right to receive public assistance benefits.

For Everyone Else:

• Decide who will inherit your property instead of letting the State decide for you.
• Execute Powers of Attorney and Health Care Powers of Attorney that allow the person of your choice to make financial and medical decisions for you if you become sick or disabled.
• Make sure your estate plan is drafted so that estate taxes will be minimized and your loved ones will not have to spend valuable time and resources to administer your estate.

Estate Administration and Probate

Estate Administration and Probate is the process of collecting and distributing a person’s assets after his or her death. The person who is given the authority to collect and distribute these assets is called the Personal Representative.  Click here to learn more about the Estate Administration process.

We assist the personal representative in locating, valuing and collecting assets of the estate, determining and paying legal bills and debts, preparing and filing court documents, preparing tax filings, distributing property to beneficiaries, handling disputed claims, negotiating family disputes and selling or otherwise disposing of property.

Will Caveats

Will Caveats are proceedings used to challenge a will. If a beneficiary or family member believes that a Decedent left a will which was written or changed under duress, undue influence, or after becoming incompetent, the will is challenged in an action called a caveat.

We represent family members who wish to challenge such wills or Personal Representatives who are defending a challenged will.