844-8-ESTATE

844-8-ESTATE

Estate Planning

Along with planning for retirement, planning your estate is a fundamental step toward protecting your assets and providing for your family over the long term. It may seem like something you can keep putting off, but getting your estate in order really should be a priority. It will be hard enough for your family to face the loss of a loved-one without adding to their worries because of a failure to plan for your estate.

If you do not have a current revocable living trust or will as the centerpeice of your estate plan, or if your estate plan needs to be updated, we can help you. Edwards Law, PLLC offers personalized one-on-one estate planning services to help give you confidence that your needs and your family’s needs will be met.

Wills

Edwards Law, PLLC will work closely with you to craft a will that expresses your intentions in clear, unambiguous language. We understand that contemplating succession issues can be difficult, and we handle each decision with the utmost sensitivity.

  • Simple and Complex Wills

  • Living Will (Medical Directive, or “DNR”)

  • Pour-over Wills

Powers of Attorney

A power of attorney allows a “principal” to designate an “agent” to handle the principal’s affairs in the principal’s absence. 

  • Specific Power of Attorney

  • General Power of Attorney

  • Statutory Durable Power of Attorney

  • Medical Power of Attorney

Trusts, Limited Family Partnerships, & LLC

Estate planning is not just about what happens when you die. Its never too early in life to start thinking about preserving and protecting your family assets.

  • Irrevocable Trust

  • Revocable Trust

  • Living Trust

  • Special Needs Trust

  • Life Insurance Trust

  • Miller Trust

  • Limited Family Partnership

  • Family LLC

Avoiding Probate

A properly drafted and funded trust will generally avoid probate. The trust need not be filed with the probate court. Nonetheless, there are still steps necessary to administer the trust: beneficiaries must be contacted; assets must be gathered, valued and managed; potential creditors must be notified; debts, taxes and final expenses must be paid; and, ultimately, any remaining income and assets must be distributed in compliance with the trust terms. Successor trustees often lack the time, resources or knowledge to personally administer the trust, and therefore may call upon legal, accounting, and investment professionals for assistance. Oftentimes, a corporate fiduciary (e.g., a trust company) is an excellent alternative to relying solely on busy family members or friends to serve as trustee. We can help your successor trustee(s) deal with the complexities of administering your trust. Please contact us and we will be happy to schedule a consultation, whether or not our office has drafted the original trust.

Ancillary Estate Documents

A comprehensive estate plan includes a Will, Living Will, Medical and Statutory Durable Powers of Attorney, as well as the following ancillary documents: 

  • HIPAA Authorization (for the release of medical information) for yourself and your minor children;

  • Declaration of Guardian, for yourself and your minor children;

  • Disposition of remains; and

  • Medical Power of Attorney for your minor children.