Estate Planning:

There are four essential documents that everyone needs for effective estate planning:

       2. Durable Power of Attorney

       3. Healthcare Power of Attorney

       4. Living Will

A will allows you to determine who handles the administration of your estate. Additionally, and more importantly, drafting a will allows you to pass your assets on to whomever you choose. If you do not do a will, you are leaving it up to the state to determine who gets your assets after you pass away. It is important to review your will every few years to make sure it still accurately reflects your wishes. Our office can help you navigate the many options available when you draft your will.

Durable Power of Attorney:

A Durable Power of Attorney is a document that allows you to name someone to handle your business affairs should you become incapacitated. There may be limitations you want to put into the document depending on how much authority you would like your attorney-in-fact to have. There also may be specific powers you want your attorney-in-fact to have depending on the type of planning that is necessary.

Healthcare Power of Attorney and Living Willing:

A Healthcare Power of Attorney is a document that allows you to name someone to make health care decisions for you should you become incapacitated. A Living Will gives instructions to health care professionals regarding your care should you be either permanently unconscious or terminally ill. Our office can help you in making sure you make decisions you are comfortable with when drafting these documents.

Business Law:

It is vitally important when starting a business to decide the right type of entity for the business.  You want to make sure the business entity you choose provides you with the proper tax advantages and liability protection you need. Our firm can help you decide whether an LLC, Corporation or other entity is right for you. We can also continue to service your business by helping you draft your annual minutes, drafting contracts, and by providing legal advice in other aspects of your business.

Estate Planning and Special Needs Trust  

Estate planning for caregivers of an individual with disabilities involves planning for the individual’s long-term living arrangements, personal care needs and anticipated needs.  One way of ensuring that all of these needs are met while preserving the individual’s qualification for governmental programs is by establishing a Special Needs Trust.   

A Special Needs Trust is a special kind of trust for a person with disabilities designed to preserve public benefits eligibility.  When setting up a Special Needs Trust, it is important to speak with others who may wish to leave the beneficiary of the trust assets. These individuals need to leave these assets to the established Special Needs Trust and not directly to the beneficiary.

Whether the individual with disabilities is just an infant or an adult, it is a very important decision of who will act as Trustee of the Special Needs Trust. It is just as important to have alternate Trustees assigned in the event that the first appointed Trustee is unable to fulfill this duty.


Guardianship and Conservatorship

Do you have a child with disabilities who is about to turn 18?  If so, it is in your child’s best interest for you to establish guardianship and conservatorship before an emergency occurs.

Guardianship needs to be established after a child with disabilities turns 18 and cannot make and carry out decisions that pertain to his or her personal welfare and basic needs.

Conservatorship needs to be established after a child with disabilities turns 18 and is not able to take care of their finances or estates.