Estate Planning

Regardless of how much you are worth, every person should have a basic estate plan. Estate planning allows you to determine, before your death, what will happen with your assets; who will care for your children; and who will be responsible for managing things when you are gone. The key to ensuring that your priorities and families’ needs are met is planning. The first step is to execute a Will. Your Will appoints an Executor who will be responsible for ensuring that your wishes and instructions are carried out. Your Will also provides instructions for how your assets will be divided. Another document that you may wish to create is an Advanced Directive, or Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care Purposes. This document, oftentimes created together with a Living Will, appoints a proxy to make health care decisions for you when you are unable to do so. The Advanced Directive also provides instructions to your proxy as to what types of extraordinary measures you desire when and if you are terminally ill. These decisions require thoughtful and caring discussion, both with family members and your health care provider. Once those decisions have been made we can help you to implement your decisions with the estate planning tools that are right for you.