A living trust has two very useful purposes. First of all, it allows you to transfer assets while avoiding the cost and hassle of probate, and secondly, it allows another person to manage your estate if you are no longer able to. With our estate planning packages, you will receive both a Certificate of Trust and a Declaration of Trust. Heather Lynn Law, APC will develop these documents as a revocable living trust, which means you can alter them at any point during your lifetime. We are also qualified to incorporate Special Needs Trusts into estate plans if that is applicable to your situation.

For all of the assets you have outside of a trust, your will determines where they are allocated once you are no longer living. Perhaps most importantly, it appoints new guardianship for any dependents you may have. A will also appoints an executor, i.e. usually an estate attorney who will see to your final wishes. While will planning is a crucial first step in estate planning, it does not go into effect if you are incapacitated, nor does it grant your loved ones the same protection as a trust from a burdensome probate process. A will and a trust work synchronistically together to protect both your assets and your family throughout your lifetime and after your death.

Power of attorney is a frequently overlooked part of estate planning, but having the documents in place that designate an agent to represent your affairs can help your loved ones avoid any significant financial disruptions if something tragic were to happen to you. At Heather Lynn Law, APC, we ensure that all of our power of attorney documents are durable, which means they will still go into effect if you are mentally incapacitated. A durable power of attorney also specifically details the type of authority given, how long this authority will last, and what exactly falls under the authority to avoid any confusion or legal distress for your family down the line.

Sometimes called a medical directive, this legal document is essential to have in place if you become incapacitated due to an accident or serious health condition. In addition to designating a representative who can make medical decisions on your behalf, a healthcare directive specifically details your desired end-of-life care for a number of major medical decisions. Laying these details out in a legal document will alleviate the burden of decision-making for your family during already stressful moments. Healthcare directives also play a valuable role in ensuring that your medical expenses are covered