ESTATE PLANNING

Without a well-drafted estate planning package, you, during life, and your beneficiaries, after your death, can be subject to lengthy and expensive probate proceedings where the courts have control over the disposition of your estate. Court documents in a probate proceeding may also become public records so that your affairs are accessible to anyone.

A complete estate planning package designed to provide a detailed distribution plan which will be private and will avoid the costly and lengthy probate process should, at a minimum, include:

• Will

  A will is necessary to keep the estate out of probate for very small estates (under $100,000.00) and is also part of a complete estate plan for larger estates. A will includes provisions for guardians for minor children, individuals to be disinherited and naming an executor for ones estate.

• Trust

  A trust provides a detailed, well designed distribution plan to protect and provide for loved ones. You maintain control of your assets during life and your beneficiaries avoid probate after death. A trust also provides for tax-exempt distribution of a portion of the estate to ones surviving spouse.

• Durable Power of Attorney For Health Care (living will)

  This document allows you to make end of life medical care decisions well in advance and to name a representative to handle medical affairs if you become too ill to manage for yourself.

• Durable Power of Attorney For Assets

  This document allows you to name a representative to manage financial transactions if you become to ill to do so for yourself.

• Business Transfer Documents

  This allows the transfer of stock, membership interests and partnership interests through the trust.

• Asset Transfer Document.

  This document acts as extra protection to transfer assets into the trust.