A will specifies how your money and property is distributed after you have passed away. A properly prepared will clearly spells out your wishes and avoids misinterpretation. If you do not have a will, state law determines how your Estate is divided; a process which may not conform to your wishes. Over the course of our practice, we have prepared over 100 wills and we take great care in making sure your wishes are clearly stated.
When someone dies with property, an Estate must be raised to properly settle the affairs of the deceased person and to distribute their assets. This is often a very complicated process which involves the liquidation of assets and the payment of inheritance taxes. A probate lawyer is responsible for taking a personal representative through the entire probate process. Over the course of our practice, we have successfully handled over 100 estates.
A Power of Attorney gives one person, called an agent, the power to make decisions for another person when one is unable to manage their affairs due to illness or incapacitation. A Power of Attorney is a written document which includes the name of the agent and the specific powers he/she is granted. Due to the potential for abuse, it is important that these documents be prepared with great care and skill.
A Health Care Directive or Living Will is a document which designates a health care representative to honor your decisions concerning health care. It directs medical care decisions in the event you become incapacitated.