Estate Planning
What Is Estate Planning?
Estate planning allows you to decide how your assets will be managed during your lifetime and distributed after your death. A well-designed estate plan gives you greater control over who receives your property, who will manage your affairs, and who may make financial or healthcare decisions for you if you become unable to do so yourself.
A comprehensive estate plan may include a Last Will and Testament, Durable Power of Attorney, Designation of Health Care Surrogate, Living Will, Revocable Living Trust, beneficiary designations, and appropriate real estate planning.
For clients seeking greater privacy, probate avoidance, continuity of asset management, or planning for property located in another state, a Revocable Living Trust may be an important part of the overall strategy.
Clients with larger or more complex estates may also benefit from advanced planning involving trusts, gifting strategies, business or family entities, and estate and gift tax planning.
Why Hire An Estate Planning Attorney?
Estate planning involves more than filling out forms. An experienced estate planning attorney can help ensure that your documents are properly drafted, legally valid, and coordinated with your assets, family circumstances, and long-term goals.
Without careful planning, even a seemingly simple estate can create unintended consequences, including unnecessary probate, tax issues, disputes among family members, or gaps in authority if you become incapacitated.
An estate planning attorney can help you determine whether you need a Will, Revocable Living Trust, Durable Power of Attorney, Health Care Surrogate Designation, Living Will, or other planning tools, and can structure those documents so they work together effectively.
At Alterman & Poltun, we take the time to understand your objectives, explain your options clearly, and develop a customized estate plan designed to protect you and make the process easier for the people you care about.