Estate Planning
The Importance of Estate Planning
Your life circumstances are personal, unique, and worth protecting. That's exactly what an estate plan does! An estate plan protects the assets you’ve worked hard to grow, the possessions you value, and the people you love.
With an estate plan you don't have to worry about "what if" because if something unexpected were to happen, then your affairs and your loved ones will be taken care of based on your wishes. Without one, your most personal matters would be left to the state to manage.
No matter where you are at in life, estate planning involves the most intimate and important aspects of your world. Attorney Candice O'Neil crafts every estate plan with the utmost care and customizes based on your unique circumstances to bring you peace of mind.
How an Estate Plan Helps You
There are various aspects in life that an estate plan can support.
During a consultation, you will learn about various estate planning topics relating to your unique circumstances. You can feel confident that you are choosing the most efficient estate plan based on your needs. Common topics include:
- Avoiding probate
- Minimizing estate taxes
- Planning for the costs of nursing home care
- Leaving assets to loved ones (including disabled)
- Ensuring your children and pets are cared for
- Placing your real estate into a trust or an LLCr
Estate Planning Documents
Feel confident choosing the estate plan that's right for you.
Knowing which documents you need to include or omit is a critical aspect of the estate planning process. Attorney Candice O’Neil will take the time to educate you about each document so that you really understand what you’re signing and feel confident choosing the plan that’s right for you.
Depending on your personal needs and goals, you will need certain documents to create an estate plan that covers all of your concerns. These documents may include:
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Powers of Attorney
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Massachusetts Health Care Proxies
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New Hampshire Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care
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Living Wills
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HIPAA Patient Authorizations
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Wills
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Prenuptial Agreements
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Revocable Trusts
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Credit Shelter Trusts for minimizing estate taxes
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Supplemental Needs Trusts for loved ones with disabilities
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Irrevocable Trusts for asset protection, including Medicaid and nursing home costs
Basic Starter Will
Our Basic Starter Will is an option for couples or individuals who need to get a very basic plan in place and do not want to engage in more detailed planning process at this time.
This service includes the affordability and convenience of a “plug and play” system but with the benefit of having a skilled attorney to oversee the process and be available to you for document execution, notarization, and to answer questions.