Helping the People You Care About

Estate planning is the process of anticipating and arranging for the management and disposal of a person's estate during the person's life in preparation for a person's future incapacity or death.  

Probate is a public court proceeding in which the court will decide what your intentions were or, if you did not have a proper will, order your assets to be distributed based on default applicable laws.

A will is a legal document that expresses a person's wishes as to how their property (estate) is to be distributed after their death and as to which person is to manage the property until its final distribution. 

A living trust is a legal document that allows you to transfer your assets into a trust during your lifetime. The trust is managed by a trustee, who is responsible for distributing the assets to your beneficiaries according to your wishes.

A living trust can help you avoid probate, which can be a lengthy and expensive process. It also provides more privacy than a will, which becomes a matter of public record after your death. Additionally, a living trust can be used to protect assets from creditors and provide for minor or disabled beneficiaries.

A power of attorney is a legal document that allows you to appoint someone to act on your behalf in financial or legal matters. This can be helpful if you become incapacitated or unable to make decisions for yourself.

An advance healthcare directive is a legal document in which a person specifies what actions should be taken for their health if they are no longer able to make decisions for themselves.