If you’re starting to think about estate planning, you should first search for probate lawyers in your area because the legal documents required for any end-of-life plans can be daunting and complicated. However, these experts can offer estate guidance and will ease your mind.
You should also search for estate planning events online happening nearby, so you can attend and find out what else you should consider when it comes to this type of legal endeavor. You might also want to look for an estate planning FAQ because most of your inquiries might have been readily answered online. There are kinds of resources available at your fingertips, and you just have to research and get prepared.
Once you’re settled and have hired someone to begin, you should ask about the attorney to-do list, which will have information on all the paperwork that must be filed and what documents you have to find, such as birth certificates, deeds, etc. Estate planning is often avoided or overlooked by people, especially if they think they don’t actually have something to leave behind. However, it’s important for everyone to consider it.
Let’s find out more about what you need for estate planning.
An estate planning attorney is an expert that can help you to make sure that your final wishes are always followed. Estate planning can help you to have peace of mind and ensure that your assets after death are distributed as you see fit.
When you create your own will and trust, you are taking the risk that the instrument will not hold up in court should it come under scrutiny. Having the professional expert help that you need is essential to ensuring that documents are drawn up to the letter of the law and will be durable.
Whether it is personal estate planning or corporate estate planning, you should always consult with an attorney. They can offer you the legal advice that will help you to make an informed decision.
Estate planning for attorneys is something that is second nature because they have formal education and experience. Planning your estate is rife with a lot of decision-making, and getting the support you need is essential.
Do you need help with estate planning ideas and working out your final wishes regarding your estate and assets? Are you confused about the requirements for estate planning and what estate planning information is available to you? Do you need help understanding the legal jargon on estate planning inventory form papers and other documents involved? If you said yes to any of these questions, or you have similar questions of your own, you need to find a local lawyer who is experienced with estate and asset planning.
One of the fastest and easiest ways to find a reputable and trustworthy estate planning lawyer is to contact your local law firm. Ask them to get you in touch with a lawyer who has experience with these kinds of services, and they can help you through the entire process from start to finish. You can get information about costs associated with estate planning services, and whether or not they offer estate planning probate options in certain cases.
If you need help with estate planning, be sure to get the legal help you need right from the start. It is the easiest way to ensure all documentations are legally binding and official and will give you peace of mind that your final wishes will be upheld.
There are several important financial documents that every adult should have. Furthermore, along with having copies with your attorney, it is important to keep additional copies in secure locations and with trusted individuals. These include Last Wills and Testaments, Powers of Attorney, and other estate planning documents.
Wills, Living Wills, and Trusts
If you’re not sure when the most appropriate time is to prepare your Will, it is recommended for adults under 40. Recent figures indicate that 51% of people in the United States aged 55 to 64 have not drawn up a Will to date. Furthermore, 64% of the general population has not created this important document yet.
Do you have assets that are worth 6 or more figures? If so, it would be a good idea to have a Trust prepared in addition to your Will. This can be beneficial for several reasons, which include minimizing estate taxes.
As of 2015, for example, the estate-tax exemption enables you to leave bequests valued at $5.43 million without your recipients being required to pay federal estate taxes. Furthermore, when you have a trust in place, it can also assist with avoiding probate.
Many seniors choose to have Living Wills created. These are also referred to as advance directives, whereby their health care, long-term care, and/or other wishes are outlined. The percentage of seniors that have had these documents created increased from 47% in 2000 up to 72% in 2010 alone.
Executors
When you are appointed as a will’s executor, you have several responsibilities. These include filing an inventory of the estate with the courts within 60 days after your appointment. You will also be required to provide a sworn statement related to this inventory. The exception to this is if you are exempt under a Will.
Powers of Attorney
The costs associated with having a qualified estate attorney draft documents to nominate a Health Care Proxy and a Durable Power of Attorney vary. These may, for example, range from $500.00 to $1,500.00.
The Joint Editorial Board for Uniform Trust and Estate Acts conducted a national survey. The results showed that a number of respondents experienced difficulty with obtaining acceptance regarding Powers of Attorney, according to the Alabama Uniform Power of Attorney Act:
- Occasional difficulty: 63%
- Frequent difficulty: 17%
Unfortunately, elder financial abuse, as well as other types of exploitation of Powers of Attorney, exist. The MetLife Mature Market Institute estimated that in 2009 alone, elders experienced $2.6 billion in financial losses.
Since Power of Attorney statistics is not comprehensively tracked, this figure is based on the information that was available at that time. Furthermore, it is believed that this approximately level of financial abuse occurs on an annual basis.
Do you require legal services for estate planning? Whether you need legal services to draw up a Will, a Living Will, Power of Attorney, or attend to another legal matter, it is important to do so at your earliest convenience. Even though you may not anticipate your family or other future beneficiaries needing these documents for quite some time, it is important to have them ready should an unexpected need arise.
If you require legal services because you have been taken advantage of by your Power of Attorney, then it is important that you schedule a consultation with an elder law attorney as soon as possible. They will be able to assist you with this and other important matters.
