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 will and estate planning lawyer.
While any attorney for wills and trusts can draw up many of the necessary estate planning documents such as your will, power of attorney, and living will, an experienced estate planning attorney will help you understand all of your options and avoid legal pitfalls throughout the estate planning process.
Our law firm, May, May & Zimmerman, LLP, has experienced trust and estate planning attorneys in Lancaster, PA, to help you understand your options.
From the simplest to the most complex estate plans, the will is the central, foundational document. It is the basic legal instrument that articulates the distribution of wealth and real estate, and the manner in which 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 and testament.
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 and testament.
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:
You can learn more about the different types of power of attorney here.
Need help creating these essential estate planning documents?
Discuss your questions with a will and estate 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 a 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 law firm in the Lancaster area when it comes to estate planning. We can help you ensure you have not missed anything that could cause hardship for you or your loved ones in the future.
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