Complete Legacy Protection

Estate Planning

Estate Planning is the process of putting together a set of instructions that will inform your family and other loved ones of your plans and wishes.  Simply put, you are writing an instruction manual for your loved ones.

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Estate Planning is personal, at times emotional, and specific to your wishes. Your estate plan should be prepared with you in mind.  It should reflect your plans for your assets and your priorities.  It should not be a cookie cutter plan, a copy of a plan you find online or your attorney's plan.  The plan should be personal to you since it contains your personal wishes, plans and dreams.

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Estate plans are made up of a variety of different documents that do unique and specialized jobs. Each document is like a chapter in your instruction manual.  

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The most common and most familiar documents are a Last Will and Testament (Will) and a Living Trust.  However, there are other documents that are vital to your Estate Plan.  

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Last Will and Testament

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A Last Will and Testament (Will or LWT) is the foundation of all good Estate Plans.  It allows you to

• appoint an Executor to settle your affairs and to ensure your wishes are followed

• establish guidelines for your Executor 

• appoint a guardian for your minor children and pets,   

• define who inherits your property and assets and when they ultimately inherit the items you have lovingly set aside for them

A Will is the one document that everyone needs.  There is no need to leave your wishes to chance.  By writing a Will and defining your wishes, your family won't be left trying to figure out what you would have wanted.  It also alleviates any potential arguing and hurt feelings among your family and loved ones.

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A Will does not go into effect until after you pass away, so it can be updated and changed as you wish. ​

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Revocable Living Trust

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A Revocable Living Trust (or Living Trust) is a detailed chapter of instructions that works for you throughout your life.

The Living Trust is established to

• lay out guidelines of how you want your assets to be managed throughout your life and after you pass

• name a Trustee (usually you) and Successor Trustee to take over after you are unable to manage your own assets

• allocate your assets for your beneficiaries

• save  from the time and cost of probate which can last anywhere between 6 months to 2 years and cost thousands of dollars

• keeps your affairs private and the details of your beneficiaries inheritance private

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A Revocable Living Trust goes into effect the moment it is signed but can be changed or amended as often as you would like.

Estate/Trust Review

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We know that life gets busy and situations change therefore it is vital to keep your documents in good working order.  A periodic review allows you to rest easy knowing that your plans are still working for you the way you intend.

We recommend a review of your legal Estate Documents every 5 years or anytime you experience a life changing event such as

• retirement

• marriage or divorce

• birth or death in the family or change in beneficiaries

• a move   

• sale of a home, rental home or vacation home

• change of income or assets

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Durable Power Of Attorney

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A Durable Power of Attorney

• establishes guidelines on how you would like your finances handled in the event you become incapacitated or pass away

• names an agent to manage your finances according to your guidelines

• allows your loved ones to focus on you and your immediate needs rather than spend time and money in court

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Without a Durable Power of Attorney, your family and loved ones may be forced to go to court to have a Conservator named to manage everyday financial decisions like paying bills and making regular donations to groups important to you.

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Advanced Medical Directive/HIPAA

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Much like a Durable Power of Attorney, the Advanced Medical Directive

• establishes guidelines on how you would like your healthcare decisions managed in the event you become incapacitated

• names an agent to make medical decisions for you

• allows your loved ones to make immediate medical decision for you and spend time with you rather than spending precious time and money in court

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Medical emergencies happen without warning and in most cases, time is of the essence.  By establishing a Advanced Medical Directive, your loved ones will be allowed to make immediate life saving or in some cases, life ending decisions for you.  

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