Due to COVID-19, most court functions in the state have been suspended. In addition, our office is working remotely. For assistance, please email esr@mmzlaw.com with your contact information and the legal matter you need help with and someone will be in touch. If you are seeking help regarding a Will, Financial, or Health Care Power of Attorney, every effort will be made to respond as quickly as possible.
While no one wants to contemplate the end of life and the decisions that come with it, having a plan for your estate is the best way to ensure that your assets are transferred according to your wishes while minimizing taxes and complications for your family.
Whether your estate is modest or vast, the first step to getting your affairs in order is creating a specialized estate plan with the help of an experienced wills and estate planning lawyer.
It is true that nearly any attorney for wills and trusts can draw up many of the necessary estate planning documents such as your last will, power of attorney designations, and living wills, an experienced estate planning attorney will help you understand all of your options and avoid legal pitfalls throughout the estate planning process.
When you are ready to draft up your estate plan documents, but you are feeling overwhelmed, our estate planning law firm would love to guide you through the process. Here at May, May & Zimmerman, we have been helping Lancaster County, PA families plan for the proper handling of their estates for generations.
From the simplest to the most complex estate plans, the last will and testament is the central, foundational document. It is the basic legal instrument that articulates the distribution of wealth and real estate how it is distributed. Although there might be many other documents involved in a comprehensive estate plan, no estate plan is truly complete without a last will.
Looking for more information on how to craft your last will and testament according to state laws in Pennsylvania? Read our article on what to include and how to craft a last will.
A Pennsylvania living will leaves directions for those in charge of your care in case you have become incapacitated or are unable to make final health care decisions on your own. A living will can promote decision-making unity among your family members and peace of mind for all during a difficult time for your loved ones.
A power of attorney is an essential estate planning document since it allows you to designate a specific trusted person you choose to be in charge of your affairs in case you become incapacitated and are no longer of sound mind make vital decisions for your health, wealth, and well-being. In the absence of a power of attorney, your loved ones may need to petition the court guardianship to legally handle your affairs.
Depending on what you and your estate planner decide is best for you, your power of attorney document can create different power of attorney types, including:
Learn more about power of attorney designations in our Complete Guide to Estate Planning.
Need help creating these essential estate planning documents?
DISCUSS YOUR QUESTIONS WITH AN ESTATE PLANNING LAWYERTrusts are used as a means of handling an estate's assets, such as leaving a legacy, protecting assets, ensuring minors or incapacitated family members are properly cared for, or as a vehicle to help minimize death taxes and the expenses associated with estate administration. There are many different types of trusts, including:
Our trust and estate attorneys can help you weigh your options and decide if establishing a trust is right for you.
DISCUSS YOUR QUESTIONS WITH AN ESTATE PLANNING LAWYERIf you are a resident of a care facility in the Lancaster, PA area who has entrusted your will to a bank or have not thoroughly planned your estate, an estate planning lawyer from our firm can help put your affairs in order. May, May & Zimmerman, LLP is an established estate planning law firm in the Lancaster area. We can help you ensure you have not missed anything that could cause hardship for you or your loved ones in the future.
DISCUSS YOUR QUESTIONS WITH AN ESTATE PLANNING LAWYER
The caring estate planning attorneys at our law offices in Lancaster can help you draft a comprehensive estate plan, including all documentation to help you minimize the tax burden and complications for your loved ones.
Contact Us to Get Started
Our law firm offers an array of legal services to our local clients. When you need legal help, talk with one of our lawyers near you in our Lancaster offices.
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