Looking for an Estate Planning Attorney Near Me? How They Can Help
When you’re thinking about your future, your family, and your finances, it’s natural to wonder how you’ll protect your assets and your loved ones. Part of this might be wondering if there’s a way to protect your family from financial burdens and unknown risks in the future. An estate planning attorney near me can help you with these concerns and devise a plan to protect your loved ones and your assets. For more information, please review the article below.
What is an Estate Planning Attorney?
The term “Estate Planning” can be confusing to the average person. It seems like a lot of legal mumbo jumbo. So what is an estate planning attorney? An estate planning attorney is someone who specializes in helping individuals, couples, families, and businesses plan their financial affairs.
Estate planning is the process of making sure that your assets are handled properly before you pass away. It involves having a clear understanding of your personal and financial goals, as well as your family’s future needs and expectations. An estate planning attorney can help guide you through the process.
Looking for an Estate Planning Attorney Near Me? How They Can Help
Pros of Estate Planning
The pros of estate planning can be summarized in three main points:
-Estate planning helps you plan for your future
-It prepares your family for what happens after your death
-Estate planning is a necessity
Estate planning allows you to take control of your future. For example, if you’ve built a successful business, you have the opportunity to choose how its sold or transferred to the next generation. You may also want to protect the value of your assets so they can pass on to your loved ones without being taxed heavily by the IRS. Whatever your goals are, estate planning gives you an opportunity to plan ahead of time and make sure that everything goes as planned.
How an Estate Planning Attorney Near Me Can Help You
Estate planning attorneys can advise you on all aspects of estate planning, including asset protection and estate administration. They will help you create a strategy to protect your family and your assets so your loved ones will be in a good position should anything happen to you. The main areas that an estate planning attorney can help with are:
– Weaving together the right documents to protect your property
– Providing legal advice on tax implications, trusts, and wills
– Advising you on what type of trust best suits your needs
– Drafting up documents like living wills or advanced healthcare directives
– Taking care of financial matters like paying bills and settling debts after death
How an Estate Planning Attorney Can Protect Your Assets
An estate planning attorney can help you protect your assets, your family, and your business in the following ways:
– Estate Planning Attorneys can help you protect your assets by drafting wills and trusts that dictate how to distribute your wealth upon death. This can include specifying which people or charities will receive certain items, such as a house or car, in the event you pass away. It might also include setting up trusts for minor children until they reach adulthood.
– They can also help you protect your family from financial burdens by naming guardians for minor children and setting up life insurance policies. An estate planning attorney can also provide guidance in case one spouse dies and the other is left with a small income to provide for their surviving spouse and children.
– Your estate planning attorney could also help protect your business by drafting agreements that limit future liability if someone were to buy the company after you die.
How an Estate Planning Attorney Can Protect Your Loved Ones
An estate attorney can help you protect your loved ones by drafting a will, preparing for incapacity, implementing trusts and powers of attorney, and other measures. He or she can help you choose the right beneficiaries for your retirement funds and assets. An estate planning attorney can also help you create trusts, including charitable trusts that are designed to provide income to family members or designated charities.
This type of lawyer is a specialist who helps clients protect their assets through wills and trusts. Estate attorneys draft wills and other legal documents to ensure that the person who created them has the ability to control where their property goes after they die. They also help families cope with unexpected events like accidents or illnesses by creating legally binding documents to ensure that your loved ones are taken care of if anything happens to you.
How to Choose an Estate Planning Attorney
When it comes to choosing an estate planning attorney, you want to take the time to find a good fit. Some factors you may want to consider are:
Qualifications
When choosing an estate planning attorney, it’s important to find someone that’s qualified. While there are many legal aspects involved in the process, such as drafting a will or trust, you need to first find someone that’s knowledgeable on taxes and other financial matters.
Flexibility
It’s also important to find an attorney who can work with your schedule. You most likely have a demanding job or other obligations that may make it difficult for you to meet during business hours. When you choose an estate-planning lawyer, make sure they offer evening and weekend appointments. That way you don’t have to take time off of work or book travel just to see them!
Reviews
One thing you should do when looking for the best estate planning attorney is to check reviews online. This way, you can get a good idea of what people’s experiences are and whether or not they recommend the lawyer. You’ll also be able to see what other clients think about their experience with the lawyer.
Asking Questions
It’s important to ask questions of a potential lawyer. For example, you might want to find out if they have experience in your specific area of concern (e.g., estate planning). You may also want to know how often they meet with clients, and whether or not they offer face-to-face consultations.
If you already know what you need and are looking for a lawyer to help you, ask them if they can help. For example, if you want to set up your will, find an attorney who specializes in wills. They should be able to tell you that right away. If they can’t help you specifically, they might recommend someone else.
Availability to Meet
When you first call or email an attorney’s office, a receptionist will likely answer the phone or email. You should ask them if the attorney is willing to meet with you for a free consultation before you commit to anything. If they are not willing to meet with you, this could be a red flag.
Conclusion
When it comes to estate planning, the decisions you make can have a huge impact on your loved ones and your legacy. An estate lawyer can help by providing you with counsel, legal documents, and filing services. We hope this guide has helped you choose an estate planning attorney and informed you on how they can help protect you and your loved ones.
Connect with an Estate Planning Attorney Near Me
If you have any further questions, or you would like to get started today, please contact us now. We look forward to learning how we can help you and your loved ones.
Filed under Estate Planning Tips, financial planning, Legal Services
The Importance of Having a Will Trust Attorney
The most important aspect of estate planning is the will. It is the only document that dictates how you intend to distribute your property upon death. This includes tangible and intangible assets like money, real estate, personal belongings, and intellectual property. Without a will, state law determines how to divide your assets. This is why it’s crucial to have a will trust attorney review your will and discuss any revisions needed before executing your last will and testament. This article will go over the importance of having a will trust attorney and what can happen if you don’t take this step.
Why would you want to remove your trust protector?
Your assets can go to the state
Without a will, state law determines how your assets are divided. This means that some of your property could end up going to individuals that you never intended or to the government. For example, if you don’t have a will and die without children, the law could result in an ex-spouse receiving an inheritance. In this case, they would be entitled to one-third of your estate. Or, if you die and own a home, the state can take ownership of that home and not to the person or persons you intended.
Guardians for your children
Additionally, if you don’t have a will and die with children under 18 years old, the court may appoint a guardian or trustee for those children until they reach 18. Further, a judge may decide who becomes your child’s legal guardian or trustee. If you intend for one specific person or persons to take guardianship of your children in the event of your death, you need to name them in your will.
Assets can be divided how you wish
When you execute a will with a will trust attorney’s review, you get to decide who inherits your tangible assets like money and property. You also can determine who gets custody of your intangible assets like intellectual property. You can protect these assets by putting them in trusts and other structures providing their care after your death.
Is Your Will Up to Par?
If you want to make sure your loved ones are taken care of properly, you need a will. Without a will, the state or judge will pass down your assets in accordance with the laws of intestacy. This means your assets could go to a person or people you did not intend to inherit them. This may not be what you want!
We Can Help
Do you have a will trust attorney? Does your will include provisions that are in accordance with your trust? If you don’t know the answers to these questions, it may be time to take a closer look at your will.
Estate planning is a necessary process that every adult should go through, and they should do it sooner rather than later. With an estate plan, you’ll be able to determine what happens to your assets when you die, protect your family’s inheritance, and ensure that your wishes are fulfilled.
To get in touch with a Pleasanton will trust attorney, contact us at Lewman Law today by dialing (925) 447-1250.
Filed under Estate Planning Tips, financial planning, Legal Services
Qualities to Look for in a Dublin Probate Lawyer
When you need a probate lawyer to handle the execution of a will, it is essential to choose the right one. The wrong lawyer can cause you more problems than they solve or lead to unsatisfactory results. If you are in need of a probate lawyer, read below to learn what qualities you should look for.
Choose a lawyer who knows the area
A good probate lawyer should be familiar with Dublin’s probate laws and regulations and the surrounding area. The lawyer should also be well versed in the rules and regulations of your state.
Choose a lawyer with experience
Next, choose a lawyer with a good amount of experience. A lawyer who has practiced probate law for several years is more likely to know what to do in your specific situation than one who is just starting out. If you’re dealing with a complex will, you want an experienced probate lawyer on your side.
Find an affordable lawyer
You will also want to try and find a lawyer who can work within your budget. You don’t want to stretch yourself thin or go into debt hiring a probate lawyer. Most lawyers will work with your budget or be upfront about what you can afford to execute, so it always helps to bring this concern to the conversation initially.
Find someone who is willing to work closely with you
A good probate lawyer will work closely with you for the duration of the execution of the estate. You will need someone to be there for you when you have questions about any processes. This individual should be available by phone, email, text, or in-person for your convenience.
Get referrals for probate lawyers
If you know anyone with
experience with a probate lawyer in the past, ask them for a referral. Talk to family members and friends who have been through the process of probating an estate. You have a good chance of finding a good lawyer when you ask around to the people you know.
Trust your intuition when choosing a lawyer.
Trust your intuition when choosing a lawyer. You know if something doesn’t seem right about an attorney as soon as you meet them. Listen to your intuition and go with your gut feeling on this one!
Ask them about their past cases and how they handled them.
Ensure their archives of past cases show happy clients before you hire them. Look online for reviews from previous clients or even ask their current clients what they think about the lawyer’s work ethic and knowledge level before hiring him or her.
Talk to a Dublin Probate Lawyer
Probate can seem like a complex ordeal, but an experienced lawyer can guide you through the process. At
Lewman Law, we’re here for you each step of the way. We can take care of all the necessary paperwork and even provide a free initial consultation. To talk to a Dublin probate lawyer, please get in touch with us today by calling (925) 447-1250.
Filed under Estate Planning Tips, financial planning, Legal Services, Probate Tips
How to Set Up a 529 Plan for Your Kids
Paying for higher education is a serious financial undertaking for many families. Starting a college fund early and saving regularly can help you gain leverage and offset some of the worries. If college savings is one of your financial goals, then choosing to invest in a 529 savings plan may be one of the most thoughtful decisions you can make. A 529 Plan helps you take advantage of tax benefits when your child is very young and can help you save money on your child’s education. Read on to learn facts and tips from our trust attorney on how to set up a 529 plan today!
How To Set Up a 529 Plan
Step 1: Select a 529 Plan
Every state offers a 529 plan, and you can also open multiple 529 plans across numerous states. However, each state’s 529 plan has its own set of benefits, and in some cases, these are limited to residents. For example, a state income tax credit may only be available to residents of a state offering the plan. There are other considerations as well, such as fees and minimum contributions.
If you want to know how to open a 529 plan, the College Savings Plan Network (CSPN) offers comparisons across states. It also has a map that makes it easy to find the state plan. If you are unsure which provider or plan is best for you, consider seeking advice from a financial advisor.
Step 2: Open the 529 Account
You can likely open an account online, and you can start contributing right away. To open the account, you will need to provide your personal information and the information of the beneficiary(ies).
Step 3: Start to Build Your Portfolio
You can decide where to invest your money and how aggressive or moderate you want to be. Your amount of reserve might depend on how long the account will stay open.
Keep in Mind
Although each institution may treat the assets held in account 529 differently, investing in a 529 plan usually affects students’ eligibility for university financial aid. Although the 529 plan has benefits, it does not always allocate sufficient funds for the child’s education. In some cases, applying for student loans is also necessary.
We Can Help With a 529
This guide to opening a 529 plan should have simplified the process of setting up a college fund. If you’d like to learn more about how to start a 529 College Endowment Plan for your child, or if you want to make sure you’re not saving for college the wrong way, contact us today.
There’s never been a better time than now to start planning for your child’s future. An experienced trust attorney can help you with this critical process. At Lewman Law, we understand that planning to help your loved ones can be difficult, but it’s essential if you want them to have the resources they need to be successful in life. For more information on how we can help ensure your children have what they need for college finances, contact us today by calling (925) 447-1250 or fill out an inquiry here.
Filed under financial planning
