Estate Planning
Some folks believe that estate planning is only for “rich” people, but virtually everyone can benefit from having an estate plan of their own. One reason is that without your own plan, the state of Ohio will control how your assets are distributed after you pass away. The state will simply follow established guidelines for distributing assets. Of course, the government is not interested in making sure your wishes are carried out, minimizing costs or streamlining the asset distribution process.
Another reason to have your own plan is to make sure that a person of your own choosing, a person you trust, can make financial and medical decisions for you in the event of incapacity. Without an estate plan, someone will need to petition the court to control your assets and medical care. This can be a long, expensive and frustrating process. Worse, the court might decide to let someone you would never have chosen yourself make these decisions for you.
This is just some of what an estate plan can help you accomplish. We can design a plan that can help you accomplish all of the following goals, depending on your particular situation:
- Protect your assets against lawsuits and creditors for your enjoyment today and that of your loved ones after you are gone
- Pass your work ethic, values and a sense of responsibility to heirs
- Significantly reduce income, estate, gift and other taxes
- Keep your financial affairs and family matters private
- Protect your heirs’ inheritances if they become divorced and remarry
- Leave a lasting legacy and impact on society
- Enjoy greater peace of mind knowing that you have a plan in place for the future
Accomplishing goals like these is not the result of simply filling out various legal forms. It is about close collaboration between you and our attorneys. We will take the time to gain a thorough understanding of your needs and goals. Only then will we create and implement a customized plan to address every single one of them. We invite you to contact us to schedule a personal meeting.