Planning for What Comes Next
Estate Planning
What We Handle
Wills
A will is the foundation of any estate plan. It establishes how your assets will be distributed, names an executor to carry out your wishes, and if you have minor children, designates a guardian. Without one, state law determines what happens to your estate, and those default rules may not reflect what you would have chosen.
Powers of Attorney
A power of attorney designates someone you trust to make financial or legal decisions on your behalf if you become unable to do so yourself. Having this in place before it is needed is one of the most practical steps in any estate plan, and one of the most frequently overlooked.
Healthcare Directives
A healthcare directive, sometimes called a living will, documents your wishes regarding medical treatment if you are incapacitated and unable to communicate them yourself. It also typically designates a healthcare proxy to make decisions on your behalf. This is a document that gives your family clarity at a moment when they need it most.
Revocable Trusts
A revocable trust allows assets to pass to beneficiaries outside of the probate process, which can save time, reduce costs, and keep the details of your estate private. Unlike an irrevocable trust, a revocable trust can be amended or dissolved during your lifetime as circumstances change.
Probate
When someone passes away, their estate typically goes through a legal process called probate before assets are distributed to heirs. We assist families with non-contested probate matters, helping to navigate the process with as little disruption as possible during an already difficult time.
Who We Work With
Our estate planning clients are often individuals and families who are going through a life transition, a marriage, a divorce, the birth of a child, the loss of a parent, or the sale of a business, and want to make sure their plan reflects where they are now, not where they were years ago. We also work with business owners who need their personal estate plan and their business succession plan to work together.
Start the Conversation
Estate planning works best when it is not rushed. If you have been putting it off, or if your existing plan needs to be revisited, we are glad to help you think it through.
Most people put off estate planning because it requires thinking about circumstances they would rather not dwell on. What we find though is that clients who work through this process feel something closer to relief than discomfort on the other side of it. Having a plan in place is not about anticipating the worst - it is about making sure the people and things you care about are protected, and that the decisions get made by you rather than by default laws in place.
Our estate planning practice focuses on helping individuals and families develop thoughtful, practical plans that protect their assets, provide for loved ones, and reflect their wishes. We assist with wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and related planning needs.
We recognize that some estates involve highly specialized tax, business succession, or wealth preservation considerations. When those circumstances arise, we help clients identify the additional expertise appropriate to their needs.
