Why Estate Planning Matters

Estate planning organizes how your assets, business interests, and personal wishes are handled during your life and after your death. Without a plan, state law and the courts decide for you—often with outcomes that ignore your preferences and burden your family. A thoughtful plan puts you in control, reduces stress, and protects the people and causes you care about.

Wills

A will directs who receives property that is not already held in a trust, payable-on-death account, or beneficiary-designated asset. It can also name guardians for minor children and appoint a personal representative to settle your estate. A will becomes effective only at death and typically requires probate, the court process that validates the will and oversees distribution.

Revocable Living Trust

A revocable living trust manages your assets while you are alive and provides a clear, private plan for what happens if you become incapacitated and after you pass away. You (and, if applicable, your spouse) are usually the trustors who create the trust and often the initial trustees who manage it. Beneficiaries are the people or charities who benefit from the trust. To work properly, assets must be titled to the trust—this funding step is essential.

Special Needs Trust

Designed for a beneficiary with disabilities, a special needs trust preserves eligibility for public benefits while allowing supplemental funds for care and quality of life. These trusts require precise drafting to avoid unintentionally disqualifying the beneficiary from programs such as SSI or Medicaid.

Spendthrift Trust

A spendthrift trust protects beneficiaries who may be at risk of overspending or creditor claims. Rather than distributing large sums outright, the trustee pays for approved needs—like housing, education, and essentials—under terms you define.

Certificate of Trust

A certificate of trust provides third parties (for example, banks or title companies) limited proof that a valid trust exists without revealing the full trust document. It lists only the information necessary for transactions, protecting your privacy.

Powers of Attorney

Financial/Property Power of Attorney authorizes a trusted person to handle finances, real estate, and business matters if you cannot act. A Medical Power of Attorney authorizes someone you trust to make healthcare decisions consistent with your wishes. Both documents are cornerstones of incapacity planning.

Advance Healthcare Directives (Living Will)

Advance directives state your preferences for critical medical interventions—such as resuscitation, ventilation, artificial nutrition and hydration, organ donation, and end-of-life choices—so your loved ones and medical providers can honor your wishes.

Funding and Maintenance

Creating documents is only the first step. Update beneficiary designations and retitle appropriate assets to the trust. Review your plan after major life events (marriage, birth, divorce, death, sale or purchase of property) and at least every few years to keep it current.

Getting Started

An experienced estate planning attorney will help you choose the right mix of documents and tailor them to your goals, assets, and family dynamics. Thoughtful planning today spares your loved ones uncertainty tomorrow.

Ready to Protect Your Legacy?