Wills and trusts

Even when families have completed estate planning documents they often overlook mistakes or fail to properly fund or update their plan properly as time goes on. Given how important proper estate planning can be for a family, it is critical to make sure you have the right documents in place to protect against unforeseen emergencies. Our experts can help you plan to protect your estate and your loved ones.

• Will your loved ones be able to make necessary decisions for you in the case of emergencies?  • Is your estate set up to avoid the need for probate court proceedings?  

• When was the last time you reviewed your estate planning documents?  

• Are all of your assets owned by your trust or are your beneficiary designations on accounts and assets up to date?  

• What retirement planning and tax planning have you done as a business owner? 

• What employee benefits program do you need or want to offer? 

• What type of liability protection should you be covering with insurance options? 

• What kind of legacy are you leaving in business? 

Parents of children with special needs often forget that their parental rights end when their child turns 18. There are dierent considerations for planning around benets and care when a child is a minor and when they are an adult. Here is some information that might be helpful as you plan for the care and inheritance of your loved ones.

• Who else would have an interest in providing for or leaving assets to your love ones? 

• Has your loved one ever been the victim of financial manipulation or exploitation? 

• In an emergency, who could make medical or financial decisions on behalf of your loved one? 

• Would your loved one’s benefits be affected under your current estate plan? 

• Would your family be prepared if you were absent for an extended period? 

• Will you be selling a business or asset soon and realizing capital gains? ·

• Is your total estate including insurance over $5MM and have you considered possible estate taxes? · 

• Have you positioned yourself for the least tax exposure over your lifetime or for more tax in the future? · 

• Is your business structured properly to avoid unnecessary taxes? · 

• When was the last time you had your most recent 3-year tax returns reviewed to maximize savings? 

• Do you have documents in place to help you avoid a Guardianship or Conservatorship proceeding in the case of incapacity?  

• Would you be prepared to pay for long-term care costs if a member of your family needed it?  • How do you plan to pay for long-term care costs if needed?  

• Do you need to preserve assets and avoid spending down to qualify for Medicaid programs in the future?