Your desires, while you are still alive—and even after your passing—are important and should be honored. You deserve a long-term plan that ensures your wishes are respected at the end of your life and after you are gone. A skilled attorney could help you achieve these goals.
If you are preparing for the future, a Washington County estate planning lawyer at our firm is ready to assist. A comprehensive estate plan could provide you with the peace of mind that comes with knowing your wishes will be respected.
There are many reasons to enlist the assistance of a Washington County estate planning attorney. These plans ensure a person maintains control over their assets, even after their passing. In addition to ensuring these assets are distributed as the plan creator sees fit, the estate plan could also make certain that the creator’s needs are met during the course of their life.
The most commonly used estate planning tool when it comes to distributing assets is the last will and testament. This document lists out the assets owned by the decedent at the time of their passing and identifies who should inherit what. Though, there are other useful estate planning tools related to the distribution of assets, the most common being trusts. Trusts allow the beneficiaries to avoid the costly probate system and distribute assets in a fast, efficient way.
The tools that are designed to protect an estate creator during the course of their life are also critical. These tools make certain that in a situation where the creator is unable to make their own medical decisions, their wishes will ultimately be carried out. Common estate planning tools that exist for this purpose include powers-of-attorney, living wills, and advanced medical directives. A seasoned legal professional could advise which of these options might be the best fit in a certain situation.
Many people assume that developing an estate plan can wait. Few people believe they will die young, and many assume that estate plans are only for the wealthy. The reality is that anyone could benefit from making a plan—and creating one sooner rather than later is always the best option.
A knowledgeable estate planning lawyer in Washington County could provide useful insight into why estate plans are for everyone. Even if a person has little in the way of assets, estate plans are also focused on ensuring that a person’s wishes are respected if they are unable to make medical decisions on their own. Any person could benefit from estate planning tools like powers of attorney or advanced medical directives.
Thus, there is no benefit in putting off making an estate plan. Life can change in an instant and waiting to create a plan is a risk. What’s more, it is possible to update the important aspects of an estate plan as time goes on, so there is no risk of planning too far in advance.
For many people, the thought of making plans for after their death can be overwhelming. Thinking about the future can be difficult, but it is also important. An estate plan can ensure that your wishes are honored now and in the future.
Do not take on the estate planning process alone. Let a committed Washington County estate planning lawyer assist you every step of the way. Call now.
