Estate Planning Lawyer Protects Your Family and Your Legacy

An estate plan is a collection of legal documents (will, trust, power of attorney, health care directive) and arrangements that determine how your assets will be managed and distributed and how your affairs will be handled if you become incapacitated or pass away.

A will is one tool; a trust is another, often with added advantages (such as avoiding probate, maintaining privacy, protecting beneficiaries). Depending on your assets, family structure, and goals, your Estate Planning Lawyer will recommend which is appropriate.

Having a will does not guarantee your estate will avoid probate. If you have assets titled solely in your name without beneficiary designations, they may still be subject to probate.

Typically, assets owned solely in your name at death, without beneficiary designations or joint ownership, must go through probate. Assets held in a trust, jointly owned with rights of survivorship, or with designated beneficiaries often bypass probate.

Guardianship is a legal proceeding in which a court appoints someone (a guardian) to make decisions for an adult who cannot manage their own affairs due to incapacity. A Guardianship Attorney helps with nominating guardians, filings, and representation to ensure the right person is chosen and the process is handled properly.

Look for experience in estate planning, trusts, probate, and guardianship; specialization in the area; clear communication; transparency in fees; and alignment with your goals. At Guardianship Lawyer Bronx, we bring all these qualities together.