A well-thought-out estate plan eases the transfer of assets to your beneficiaries after your death. It reduces the likelihood of conflict between family members and saves your heirs money – often saving far more than the cost of the estate plan itself. If married, an estate plan can protect significant assets for surviving spouses if they enter a long-term care facility. If you have a large estate, a well-crafted estate plan can help your estate avoid or reduce estate taxes. Estate plans may also create vehicles for donating to charitable organizations in your name or the name of loved ones.After a thorough analysis of your estate, we utilize a variety of tools to create your estate plan. Those may include, among other things, Durable Powers of Attorney, Healthcare Directives, Community Property Agreements, Wills, Revocable Living Trusts, Minor’s Trusts, Special Needs Trusts, and Irrevocable Trusts. An important note: We believe the most important estate planning document any person over the age of 18 should have, is a Durable Power of Attorney. Our attorneys ensure every client at NWEPP has an up-to-date comprehensive Power of Attorney. Powers of Attorney protect our clients in the event of emergencies, help elderly clients manage their assets and medical care, and can avoid the need for Guardianships. Even young adults over the age of 18 need to have a durable power of attorney in case of emergencies.
