Services
Estate Planning
Wills, Trusts, Powers of Attorney, Advanced Directives
Estate Planning refers to the preparation of the four main documents:
Wills
Trusts
Durable Powers of Attorney for finances
Advance Directives for health care
“By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail,” Benjamin Franklin.
Estate plans protect assets and can secure your survivors' futures. With a trust in place, unnecessary tax and probate can be avoided. Instead, your assets are deliberately distributed upon your death in accordance with your wishes. A customized estate plan offers peace of mind. During the estate planning process, we consider a range of factors:
Guidance related to your estate you'd like your personal representative to follow
Asset inventory, including properties, bank accounts, investments, and personal belongings
Tax considerations, including estate taxes and strategies to minimize tax burdens on your heirs
Availability of support as your needs increase and healthcare representation may needed
Funeral and burial instructions
Estate plans should be reviewed annually and updated as appropriate. If you already have an active estate plan, we are available to review it to ensure it still reflects your wishes and needs.
Estate planning documents we can create for you include:
Wills
Trusts for Minors
Living Trusts
Pourover Wills
Powers of Attorney
Advance Directives
”The future belongs to those who prepare for it today,” Malcolm X.
Contesting a Will or Trust
Disputes over wills and trusts are challenging and risk polarization among friends and family. Unfortunately, when issues about fairness or validity arise, contesting these documents may be necessary to protect one's rights. Common circumstances when wills and trusts are contested include:
Lack of Testamentary Capacity: If the deceased was not of sound mind when creating or amending the will or trust, it may be contested.
Undue Influence: When someone exerts excessive pressure on the deceased to alter their will or trust in their favor.
Fraud or Forgery: If the will or trust was created or modified through deceit or falsification.
Improper Execution: When the legal requirements for signing and witnessing the document were not followed.
Robert W. Good Attorney at Law offers comprehensive services to ensure your rights are protected, and your loved one's intentions are honored. Whether you are a beneficiary, heir, or trustee, Attorney Robert Good represents his clients' interests with sensitivity and the skills he's gained from three decades of experience.
