Watertown Estate Planning Attorney
Knowledgeable Estate Planning Lawyer Assisting Watertown Families Plan for the Future
Although many people believe that estate planning is something you do during the late stages of your life, taking the necessary steps today to safeguard the future of you and your family is one of the wisest actions you can take. Waldron Law Offices, Ltd. serves Watertown individuals and families as an estate planning attorney, guiding them through the process of creating and assembling the documents necessary to protect your wishes for end-of-life care and to create financial stability for you and your loved ones. Our firm offers several estate planning options, such as creating wills, establishing trusts, assigning powers of attorney, completing health care directives, and navigating the probate period. Contact us today to learn more.
Wills
A will is a legal document that expresses your preferences for the distribution of your estate once you pass away. Without a will in place, the family of the deceased has no clear instructions for how the dispersal of the assets should be handled, so the Minnesota court assumes responsibility for overseeing the process. Many times, a judge may not understand your family’s dynamic, and disputes can erupt and the whole process can become very stressful. In order to save your beneficiaries from potential chaos, we highly recommend that you work with our estate planning attorney to ensure that your wishes are clearly expressed. We will guide you through the process of creating a will that allows for the equitable transmission of your estate to members of your surviving family.
Trusts
Trusts are helpful estate planning tools, as they offer many benefits to you and your loved ones. There are trusts that can be established while you are still alive, bestowing you with the authority to manage them and retain control for as long as you can. When you pass away, the trust becomes the owner of your estate, and the trustee you have appointed oversees the dispersal of the assets. We will help you understand the many different kinds of trusts, making sure you select the ones that will best suit your needs. Reach out to us today to learn more about trusts and estate planning.
Probate
When a loved one passes on, their estate enters what is known as the “probate period.” During probate, the estate is assessed, any lingering debts or taxes are paid off, and the remaining assets are distributed among the beneficiaries. When there is no will, the estate almost always enters probate automatically, and a Minnesota judge supervises these actions. Many estates enter probate, even if there is a will in place. Contact Waldron Law Offices, Ltd. today to learn more about probate and how we can help you navigate this process.
Powers of Attorney
Many estate plans include documents that grant permission to a trusted individual to handle business or personal transactions on your behalf. These documents, known as powers of attorney, allow your chosen representative to sign documents or complete legal transactions when you are physically unable to complete them. For instance, if you are purchasing a property in another state, and you cannot find the time to physically travel to the location to complete the transaction, your personal representative could act with legal authority in your place. When we meet to design your estate plan, we will explore how a powers of attorney document could be useful to you and your loved ones. Contact us today to hear more about the benefits of a powers of attorney document.
Health Care Directives
It can be difficult to imagine a time when you will be faced with significant decisions about your medical treatment. Even though it can be hard to think through your wishes for medical interventions or treatments, putting your health care preferences in writing in the form of health care directives ensures that, when the time comes, your wishes will be known and respected. Our compassionate and knowledgeable estate planning attorney will walk you through various scenarios and help you create a clear health care directive that allows your medical goals and treatment preferences to be visible and upheld when the time comes.
High-Quality Estate Planning Services for Watertown Clients
If you have been thinking about creating an estate plan, now is the time to get started. Waldron Law Offices, Ltd. is here to help you understand your options for ensuring that the future of you and your loved ones is properly protected. Our mission is to provide you with all of the information, support, and advocacy you deserve while making these important decisions. Schedule your free initial consultation with our dedicated estate planning attorney today.