How Can an Estate Plan Help?

Regardless of your age, or the size and complexity of your estate, an estate plan can accomplish the following:

• Identify the family members and other loved ones that you wish to receive your property after your death.
• Ensure that your property will be transferred to those you have identified, as quickly and with as few legal hurdles as possible.
• Minimize the amount of taxes that will need to be paid in order for your property to pass to others after your death.
• Avoid the time and costs associated with the probate process by utilizing estate planning devices like living trusts and "payable on death" bank accounts.
• Dictate the kinds of life-prolonging medical care you wish to receive should you be unable to make your wishes known when the time comes.
• Set forth the kind of funeral arrangements you would like, and how related expenses are to be paid.

Understanding the estate plan options that are right for you can be a complex undertaking. We're here to help you at every step of the estate planning process

Legal Services - Estate Planning Tools

• Living Trusts - Make sure your heirs avoid probate court with its costs and fees
  
  
• Wills - Set up your fiduciaries (personal representatives, guardians, custodians)
  
  
• Powers of Attorney - Assign agents to speak for you on health and financial issues
  
  
• Living Wills - The Do-Not-Resuscitate document, keeps you off the machine
  
  
• Family Limited Partnerships - FLPs transfer assets to your children but retain control
  
  
• Limited Liability Companies - LLCs limit your liability and protect your business from personal assets
  
  
• Layered Limited Liability Companies - Save up to 90% of your FICA obligation
  
  
• S-Corporations - Save up to 50% for your FICA obligation
  
  
• Corporations or Personal Corps - Asset protection
  
  
• Family Corporations - Asset protection, not as good as an FLP.
  
  
• Irrevocable Life Insurance Trusts - Have your life insurance pay outside the estate
  
  
• Charitable Remainder Trusts - Have highly appreciated or capital gain recapture issues, donate them and live of the interest
  
  
• Land Trusts - Asset protection while maintaining the tax benefits