Let Us Put Our Knowledge and Expertise to Work for You with Your Estate Planning

Estate planning is an important task that everyone should complete. You may think that estate planning is only for those who have accumulated a lot of wealth. However, everyone has an estate-regardless if it's a large estate or a small one. If it's not handled properly, it may cause problems for your loved ones after you're gone.

What is Estate Planning?

Estate planning is the process of anticipating and arranging for the management and disposal of a person's estate while minimizing gift, state, and Federal estate taxes, generation skipping tax, and income tax. Estate Planning involves drafting Wills, various Trusts (revocable, irrevocable, testamentary, life insurance trusts, "Bypass" trusts, "QTIP" trusts, asset-protection trusts and others to accomplish specific goals), as well as drafting various ancillary estate planning documents such as Financial Power of Attorney and Advance Medical Directive.

In general, your estate is comprised of all the things you own. For example, you likely have cars, a house, property, life insurance, retirement funds, bank accounts, furniture, and more. An estate plan is a guideline of how you want your items to be handled and distributed after death.

There are many benefits with completing your estate planning now. They include:

Who Inherits Your Belongings?

One of the best things you can do now, while you are alert and mentally capable, is decide who among your loved ones will get which items from your estate when you are gone. You can never assume your estate will be handled properly without having your desires in writing. An estate plan consists of legal documents that hold up in court. If you don't have an estate plan, then it may take several months to years and a lot of strife before your estate is even distributed. In addition, it may not be distributed the way you wanted. For example, if you have more than one child, there may be confusion and misunderstanding as to who is supposed to get what.

How Can Taxes Be Reduced?

An effective estate plan helps reduce some of the potential taxes that may be incurred such as income, gift, and inheritance tax. Through proper planning, an attorney can set up your estate distribution in such a way as to minimize taxes. Your heirs will have less tax burden, allowing them to get the maximum benefit from your estate.

How Can You Provide for Your Children?

If you have young children under the age of 18, then estate planning is critical to ensure your children are provided for and protected. Designate who you want to be guardians for your children and who will provide for your children financially if both parents should die. If you don't select someone to care for your children and something happens-the courts will have to make the decision for you.

Estate planning is a very important and extremely personal matter. We strive to make the estate planning process go as smoothly and efficiently as possible. We guide you through the process and work with you closely to design the estate plan that addresses your specific needs and preferences.

Contact us today for more information and to set up your free Initial Estate Planning Consultation. We look forward to working with you.

Our Clients Say...

I highly recommend Iryna for your estate planning. She is so professional, intelligent, organized and sweet. I just finished mine with her today she took time to answer my questions and concerns and brainstormed ideas to satisfy my unique plan, I can't be thankful enough. Now I can sleep better knowing a major thing in my life is taken care of. Thank you Iryna!

Paris G.