Wills, Trusts and Estates

A valid will sets forth the intentions of the deceased with respect to the distribution of assets, the payment of debts and taxes, and the care of minor children or wards.

A trust creates a separate legal entity, allowing you to avoid the transfer of property upon death. This can be an effective method for avoiding the time and expense of probate.

Estate planning involves setting up mechanisms such as wills and trusts that provide specific instructions for the distribution and management of property passing to a person’s designated beneficiaries.

If a person dies without a will or other estate plan, they are considered to have died “intestate.” In such a case, property will generally be distributed under state “laws of intestacy.”

The probate process is designed to ensure the orderly distribution of an estate in accordance with the decedent’s wishes.

A power of attorney conveys legal authority to the designated person to make certain decisions on behalf of the person granting the power. That authority may be general, addressing all types of issues, or it may be limited to financial, medical, legal or other decisions.

Living wills allow people to specify the type of treatment and care they wish (or don’t wish) to receive in the event of incapacity, including artificial life support.

Elder law covers issues encountered by the elderly, including long-term care, government benefits and end-of-life decisions.