Estate plans are for everyone — regardless of amount of wealth.
Estate plans address how your property will be divided among your heirs, but there is so much more that you need to consider. Your estate plan makes life easier for your family and is your way of speaking when you can no longer express your wishes fully. Not only is it vital to have an estate plan, but your plan must address your situation, and the documents must be correct.
The best thing you can do is consult an experienced estate planning attorney in Hendersonville, North Carolina. Attorney Ethan Trice at Davis Curry Law works with clients throughout NC to come up with solutions to your issues and help your family get the peace of mind it needs as circumstances change.
Please contact us about our estate planning services.
The Benefits of an Estate Plan
It is impossible to overstate both the benefits and the critical necessity of an estate plan. Without one, your family can be forced to deal with a complex legal process and possibly litigation.
These legal documents can help your family in the following ways:
- There is clarity over who is making decisions when you cannot
- You could potentially minimize delays in the probate process
- The possibility of litigation could be reduced
- You ensure that your assets go to the beneficiaries that you want
- Your assets could be protected from possible threats
Estate Planning Services We Provide
Our estate planning attorney can work with you on an overall estate plan or on specific issues as they arise (if you already have part or all of an estate plan).
Wills
A will is a legally binding written document that expresses your wishes about how your property is to be divided. If you do not have a will, North Carolina intestacy law takes over, and you lose all control over your property. Plus, your family may be bogged down in court for an interminable amount of time.
Wills should not be one-size-fits-all. In other words, the DIY forms that you see on the internet will do little to help your situation, and they may actually hurt. At Davis Curry Law, we work with clients to explain the different alternatives for your will and to draft the actual documents. You can take comfort in knowing that there is a far lesser chance that your family will end up in litigation over your property when you are no longer here.
Power of Attorney
There may come a time when you are not able to make decisions on your own behalf. You could be a service member who is deployed overseas. Your health may begin to decline, and you would lack the capacity to make financial and healthcare decisions on your own. A power of attorney is a legal document that allows someone to make decisions on your behalf when you cannot.
You have the power to decide the scope of the power of attorney. You could have a general or limited power of attorney. The actual document needs to be clear and specific, so there are no doubts about your agent’s authority. Davis Curry Law can help you review options and draft the actual documents for your signature.
Trusts
Trusts are a valuable tool in your estate plan that can provide a number of benefits. Trusts can help care for a specific individual or assist you in meeting a specific purpose. A trust can preserve your assets from liability or the high costs of long-term care. More generally, a trust can help your estate stay out of probate.
There are numerous options for trusts that you can consider. You have the power to set the rules of your trust and to pick the person who acts as the trustee. These are extremely important decisions, and when made correctly, trusts can benefit your family. We can assist you in establishing the trust and work with you on any issues related to trust administration.
Probate
Probate is the process whereby your estate is administered and the title to the assets is transferred to the heirs that are designated in your will. If you have a will, your estate must go through probate for your loved ones to inherit your assets. However, probate can be a difficult and time-consuming process that has the potential for delays, and even litigation.
At the very minimum, you could be bogged down in details that will take your time and emotional energies when they can best be used elsewhere. We can guide you through the probate process and represent your interests, whether you are an executor or an heir.
Why hire Davis Curry Law?
Estate planning is not a topic that many people want to address. They may not want to talk about difficult topics, or they may fear family conflict. Your attorney must be approachable and handle difficult situations with forethought and diplomacy. That is exactly what we do at Davis Curry Law.
We pride ourselves in being a lawyer who you can work with and who pays attention to your needs. We take the time to talk to you and learn what is important to you before we recommend any solutions.
Your situation is not the same as others, and neither is your family. Thus, you need your own customized estate plan to take care of your family.
The first step is often the hardest one to take. Once you contact us for legal help, we will work with you to devise your estate plan and execute the necessary document. If you have an existing estate plan, you must take the time to review it to ensure that it meets your current needs. Your situation can change over time, and your estate plan must address what you need now.
Contact us today to speak with an attorney about your estate planning needs. You can rely on our Hendersonville law firm to be responsive, and we will speak with you as soon as possible to get the process started.
