Whether you are 30 or 90 a personal, customized, life-time oriented estate plan is important for everyone. At Thomas Smith Law Firm we cherish every client. We take the time to listen to you and your concerns. We want to learn about your family, your business, your goals, and your concerns about the future.
Life-Time Oriented
An Estate Plan should be more than just a set of instructions for when you are gone. Our Estate Plans are life-time oriented. We want to help you address issues that may arise through the course of life. It may be advising you on adequate life insurance to support a minor’s trust. It may be working with you to find the right Long Term Care Insurance policy. Or we may help you with an asset protection plan in the event that long-term care becomes necessary in the future. The point is your Estate Plan should be ready to help you during your life as well as when you are gone.
The Importance of Decision Making
We all want to make our own decisions for ourselves. Yet unplanned events are a fact of life. Tragic accidents occur. Unexpected illnesses happen. Life takes a turn we could never contemplate.
Who do you trust to make your decisions for you if you are incapacitated? It’s a difficult question, but an important one.
All of our Estate Plans include a Health Care Power of Attorney and a General Durable Power of Attorney. We will help you identify the person or persons who might best serve you in your time of need. We will help you learn about the different types of powers of attorney, the nuances of a “springing” power of attorney, and the difference between a health care power of attorney and a living will. In short, we will talk to you about these important, indeed potentially life changing, documents and work with you to a qualified “agent”. While these documents don’t control the disposition of your estate in any way; they are critical to your life-time oriented estate plan.
What Happens When I’m Gone
Most of us are concerned about what will happen to our “things” after we are gone. Whether you have been blessed with a multi-million dollar estate or just a few items of personal property; setting up an appropriate estate plan is important. After learning about you, your life, and your desires we will utilize a number of tools to help satisfy your goals after you are gone. Some of these tools include wills, trusts, beneficiary deeds, payable on death designations, and gifting. We do not believe in a one size fits all model. We take the time to customize your estate plan to meet your situation.
Follow-Up
An estate plan is not a once and for all project. Your life-time oriented plan needs to change as your life changes. Children are born, or marry, or have their own children. You may adopt a child or your grandchild may adopt a child. You may decide to buy a new house, start a business, or get married. In short, life happens, and your estate plan needs to stay relevant. At Thomas Smith Law Firm we want to be your attorney for life. We want to meet with you on a regular basis to discuss what’s been going on in your life and see if your plan needs to be amended, modified, or just reworked entirely.
Let Us Help You
A personal, customized, life-time oriented Estate Plan is important for everyone. Whether young or seasoned, single or married, sick or healthy your estate plan will be of benefit to you and your loved ones. Please contact us today to set up a free consultation.