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Estate Planning And Administration
Every adult should have a will. This is a sensible starting place for any estate planning efforts.
While it is easy to put off this important task out of a belief that death is a “someday” kind of thing, news stories remind us daily of the unpredictability of death. Other stories reveal bitter battles among heirs after someone dies without a will or has left behind a will that can be contested.
If you have not created a will or if your will needs updating, Bell, Shivas & Bell, P.C., is a reliable source of customized guidance.
Our estate planning attorneys will listen attentively as you describe your goals. We will make you aware of things you may not have thought of. We will explain the value of other estate planning tools such as powers of attorney and health care directives that may meet your needs.
About Trusts
You may wish to simplify the transfer of assets from one generation or one spouse to the other. You may want to keep assets out of probate court if possible. For these and other reasons, you may want to establish one or more trusts, such as the following:
- A revocable or irrevocable trust to keep assets out of probate
- A special needs trust for an adult disabled child
- A charitable remainder trust in support of favorite causes
- A generation-skipping trust to fund your grandchildren’s college education
Trusts may or may not have tax benefits but you may want to find out if this would be the case for your estate.
After A Death In The Family
When you are on the other side of estate planning – perhaps responsible for settling a loved one’s estate – you naturally have numerous concerns. You want to administer an estate according to your loved one’s wishes. You and perhaps beneficiaries may wish to streamline the estate administration process to release assets as efficiently as possible.
At the same time, you need to protect yourself from accusations of wrongdoing.
To avoid a breach of fiduciary duty lawsuit or other harsh consequences, let one of our probate law attorneys lead you step by step through the necessary legal processes.
Share Your Thoughts And Concerns With Us
Whether you contact us or another law firm, we urge you not to put off putting your estate plan in order. We do believe we have much to offer, namely, years of experience and a focus on meeting clients’ needs.
To schedule a consultation about a will, trusts, trust administration, powers of attorney or probate, call 973-442-7900 or complete our online form for a prompt response.
