Among the most common estate planning questions asked is the role of an estate planning attorney. Did you know there is the provision of services to help distribute an estate by lawyers? If you did not, now you do. An estate planning attorney is in charge of helping their clients determine the particular distribution of their estate.
The lawyers are in charge of drafting common estate planning documents such as advice on wills and trusts. Do you need assistance on how to go about wills and trusts? Worry not; you need services from an estate planning attorney.
Technology has made it easy to locate services online. With access to the internet at your convenience, you can now search for estate planning attorneys in your area. Recommendations from friends, colleagues, and family members can also help you find a reliable estate planning attorney.
Most people have little knowledge of wills and trusts. For instance, did you know that there can only be one valid will from an individual while the same individual may have several trusts? One trust can hold different assets; it is also possible to divide the estate assets within several trusts. Owning an estate requires an understanding of the appropriate process of ownership.
An older American will have accumulated a number of possessions and money of great value, and that person is responsible for ensuring that their estate is handled well after their death. Elder care sometimes entails writing a solid and legally binding will that will control the client’s estate as they intended, as any number of things may go wrong if estate attorneys are not present to help write a good will. A person’s money, cars or houses, or even their privately owned business may be abused or mishandled by creditors or dishonest family members, especially if the deceased had outstanding debt. An estate lawyer can help with this, and estate lawyers may be found online with a search. Looking online for “estate attorney Albany NY” can be a fine start, and a search such as “estate attorney Albany NY” may yield a list of real estate planning law firms nearby. Those with limited experience with the Internet may ask a friend or relative to search “estate attorney Albany NY” or “estate lawyers in Boston MA” on their behalf.
Why a Will Is Important
Why might someone search online for “estate attorney Albany NY” or something to that effect? It is generally advisable for all adult Americans to have a legally binding last will and testament for their estates, but the truth is that not everyone even has one, nor do they plan on one. Some adults neglect to have a will written because they believe that their estate is too small to bother with, and some demographics are known for having especially low percentages of people with written wills. In other cases, an adult may simply procrastinate having their will written, and this may be quite a problem if that person were to perish due to an accident or illness, especially if their estate is fairly large. The younger Americans are, generally the less likely they are to have a written will, possibly due to a thought process such as “I’m young, so I don’t have to think about a will for a long time. Wills are for old people.” That is not entirely wrong, but an adult in his or her thirties or forties may want to consider having their will written as a precaution, especially if they have a fairly large estate.
What might prompt someone to get their will written well ahead of time? A middle-aged adult may choose to have a will written if their estate is fairly generous, as written above, and possessions such as a large bank account, cars, a vacation house, or an RV are items that need legal protection in a will. A person may also have a will written early if they own their own business and they have outstanding debts, whether that business is large or small. A person may also have a will written if they suspect that they may die relatively soon due to an inherited condition or other illness. Whatever the reason for writing a will at any age, a person may want an estate planning attorney to guide them.
Working With an Estate Attorney
An online search such as “estate lawyers in Los Angeles CA” or “estate attorney Albany NY for me” can show a list of nearby estate planning law firms that the client may consult. Consultations with lawyers may or may not incur a fee (this will vary), but the end result is the same: the client will find an estate lawyer whose personality and capabilities are to their liking. Together, they can draft an effective and legally binding will that may adequately protect the client’s estate after their death. An estate lawyer may do a lot of good if the client owns a business, for example, and they have creditors who may take all of their possessions or money to cover outstanding debts. A will may protect the assets from such creditors, and family members might handle the debt on their own terms. In fact, family members may themselves be the problem, and a will can make sure that items and money are distributed as the deceased intended, since some family members might act selfishly. Trustees can be appointed when under-18 children are involved.