Estate planning is never something to be done lightly. After all, estate planning allows you to prepare for the future… not just ensuring that your own wishes are fulfilled, even after your death, but also verifying that your loved ones will be adequately taken care of.
Naturally, the specifics of estate planning can vary from person to person, and may encompass such wide-ranging tools as wills, trusts, and Powers of Attorney. For the most prudent and effective planning, we recommend working with a wills, trusts, and estates attorney.
Finding a Specialized Will and Trust Attorney
First things first: Do you really need to find a specialized wills trusts and estates lawyer? Can’t any ol’ lawyer help you draft your will?
The truth of the matter is that, yes, most attorneys can help you put a will in place. The issue is that just having a will is seldom sufficient. For example, just having a will is highly unlikely to keep your estate out of probate court, a process that can be costly as well as time-consuming.
In other words, there are lots of attorneys who can perform some basic estate planning… but for the vast majority of people, basic estate planning is not enough to achieve their needs and goals. More advanced estate planning, involving trusts and health directives, is essential, and can only be provided by a seasoned wills trust lawyer.
What Can a Will and Trust Attorney Do for You?
When we talk about advanced estate planning, what specifically do we mean? Here are just a few examples of what a skilled wills trust lawyer can do on your behalf.
- Help you avoid probate court. If you only have a will in place, then your estate is very likely to pass into probate upon your death. This means that it will be reviewed by a court, and it may even mean that your stated wishes will be reassessed and adjusted. The probate process can cost some money and it can also take a lot of time. Plus, it means all the contents of the estate are disclosed to the public. The best way to avoid all of this is by putting a trust in place, something that a wills trusts and estates lawyer can assist you with.
- Help you plan for incapacitation. What happens if you find you are unable to speak for yourself, specifically due to medical incapacitation? The right estate plan can help you prepare for this possibility, whether through a Power of Attorney or a living will. Again, this is an area where you will want the specialized expertise of a will trusts and estates lawyer.
- Help you minimize tax burdens. Tax strategy is a big part of the estate planning process. Simply put, you’re always going to want to maximize the value you pass on to your beneficiaries and heirs. To achieve this goal, you’ll need to seek the expertise of a seasoned wills and trust lawyer.
Speak with an Advanced Estate Planning Lawyer Today
The bottom line is that your estate plan is way too important for you to take a haphazard approach… and the best way to do your due diligence is to work with a trust expert in estate planning and trust law.
We’d love to tell you more about the estate planning strategies that can help you achieve your goals. To learn more, or to speak with a qualified estate planning lawyer, reach out to Singh Law Firm. We are always more than happy to discuss advanced estate planning strategies with our clients in Fremont, CA.
