ESTATE PLANNING
A trusted team of estate planning attorneys, here to help you protect what matters most.
GAIN PEACE OF MIND THROUGH PROPER ESTATE PLANNING
What is estate planning? Simply stated, estate planning protects you, your loved ones, and the assets you’ve worked a lifetime to accrue. It is the act of creating a plan for how you want your assets handled upon disability or death, and while it can be uncomfortable to think about these things, it’s also incredibly important. If you don’t have an estate plan in place when tragedy strikes, the state will put a plan in place for you—but you probably won’t like it.
A thorough estate plan can protect a lot, even priceless intangible assets:
Values & Valuables
Estate planning can help ensure that your legacy is passed down, along with your tangible assets.
Guardianship of Minors
Name a guardian for your children and gain peace of mind knowing that your loved ones will be protected, no matter what.
Include Insurance
Insurance can protect your family upon death or disability, and can even cover the cost of long-term care should it be needed.
Save Money
An estate plan can save your family money on taxes, court costs and unecessary legal fees.
Care Instructions
If you become incapacitated or disabled, your estate plan will outline how you would like to be cared for.
Provide for Family Members & Loved Ones
Proper estate planning can ensure that beneficiaries are provided for, while also outlining how they receive their inheritance. This is especially important for family members who are financially irresponsible, have special needs, or who may face issues with creditors in the future.
Transfer Business Assets
For those who own a business, an estate plan is an important tool for ensuring the assets are passed down to the appropriate successor.
WHAT GOES INTO AN ESTATE PLAN?
LAST WILL & TESTAMENT
Determine what’s best for your children and family, and what should happen to your assets.
REVOCABLE LIVING TRUST
A tool for passing assets down to beneficiaries while avoiding expensive, time-consuming probate proceedings.
BENEFICIARY DESIGNATIONS
Outline the people who should receive the proceeds from life insurance policies or retirement plans upon your death.
DURABLE POWER OF ATTORNEY
Name an individual to make financial and legal decisions on your behalf should you die or become incapacitated.
LIVING WILL & HEALTHCARE POWER OF ATTORNEY
A living will outlines the types of care you do and do not want, and a Healthcare Power of Attorney names an individual who may make medical decisions if you become unable to do so.
PROVISION FOR DIGITAL ASSETS
This outlines what you would like to happen to your digital assets, including your computer hard drive, digital photos, and social media profiles, etc.
LETTER OF INTENT
There are some actions you might want to happen upon your death, but that cannot be guaranteed in legal estate planning documents. This letter will outline those things.
LIST OF IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS
This is a simple list to guide your family to the location of your important estate planning, financial, and insurance documents.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT ESTATE PLANNING
Do I even have an estate?
“Estate” is just a fancy word for anything you own—and anything that you care about protecting. Your house, your car, your digital assets…even that vintage guitar collection you’ve been coveting since the college days! If you own anything, then yes…you have an estate and should plan to protect it.
Who needs an estate plan?
The short answer is everyone. As soon as you turn 18, it’s important to at least start the estate planning process by drafting the most basic estate planning documents. As you get older—and as you get married or divorced, have children, have grandchildren, and enter your golden years—you will want to draft new documents to address the changes that go along with each phase of your life.
What happens if you don't have an estate plan and something happens?
Unfortunately, if you don’t have an estate plan in place and you become incapacitated or worse, the court will ultimately call all the shots. In the case of disability, the court will decide how your assets are used to pay for your care. In the case of death, the state will distribute assets to your spouse and children, control the inheritance of minors, and assign a guardian to those minors.
Is estate planning expensive?
You may be surprised to learn that the cost of estate planning services is affordable. Your estate planning attorney can recommend the most important documents for you to draft within the confines of your budget. Remember, you can always start small and grow your plan slowly—you can’t put a price tag on peace of mind.
YOUR GUIDE TO ESTATE PLANNING BASICS
An Introduction to Estate Planning Concepts and Tools
This free brochure is a must-have for anyone starting or revising their estate plan. This brochure breaks down the process and outlines not only the benefits of estate planning but also provides you with a valuable toolkit to guide you along the way. Simply fill out the brief form below to download the free e-Book today.
ESTATE PLANNING ARTICLES
Deciding on a Guardian: What To Do If You and Your Child’s Other Parent Cannot Agree
It is said that parents should name the same guardian for their children. But what should be done if parents are divorced, or for other reasons the parents cannot agree on the most suitable guardian? Naming different guardians can lead to a battle in court if you and...
Probate Administration: Why to Stop Avoiding It and Start Planning for It
Writing a will without planning for probate administration is like having a child without planning to be a parent. When the first happens, the second invariably follows and so, as the saying goes, failing to prepare is simply preparing to fail. A will is a legal...
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Considering Downsizing for Retirement
Many people consider downsizing their home as they approach retirement both for funding retirement and in decreasing home maintenance. Investopedia.com recently shared an article on this topic and detailed the mistakes to avoid in such an approach. Below are some of...
READY TO PROTECT YOUR FAMILY & LOVED ONES?
Estate planning is an act of kindness that protects your family and loved ones, while also ensuring that the assets you’ve worked a lifetime to accrue end up exactly where you want them to. Get started planning your estate today.
CONTACT THE DELIBERATO LAW CENTER
If you are ready to get started with estate planning, Medicaid planning or any other elder law services, or just need to ask a question about how to protect your assets, please complete the brief form below and a member of our legal team with get in touch with you shortly!
LAW FIRM LOCATIONS
Independence, OH
6200 Rockside Road
Suite 300
Independence, OH 44131
216.341.3413
Dublin, OH
6000 Venture Dr.
Suite A.
Dublin, OH 43017
614.344.0456
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