Estate Planning is exactly what it sounds like – making plans for your estate. The estate plan you put in place will protect you, your loved ones, and everything you have.
The Hunsberger Law team works with individuals, families and business owners to assist with developing a plan to best prepare their estates for the challenges and uncertainties of estate and tax laws. As the unexpected often happens, preparing an estate plan ahead of time will ensure the legal and financial aspects of your affairs have been addressed while accounting for all of the different government administrations and the twenty-first century.
Our estate planning services include:
Estate Planning Consultation
The attorneys at Hunsberger Law will spend time with you to learn about your specific situation and provide you with details which will help you make informed decisions about your plan for your loved ones and your belongings.
Estate Goal Determination
Your goals will be assessed to help you determine the best plan.
Non Citizens and Estate Planning
Estate planning of all levels can be done even if you are not a US citizen. All the documents regarding estate planning are not dependent on US citizenship; however there are certain specialized methods that must be used to best plan for someone who is not a citizen. The attorneys at Hunsberger Law can inform you of your options and create an estate plan that takes advantage of those specialized methods.
Professional Trustees
Sometimes families or individuals are unable to nominate an individual to administer their estate for various reasons. If that situation arises, there are companies and professional individuals who can serve as an impartial and skilled trustee. Even if you have family members who are willing to serve as your trustee or executor, sometimes a professional may be better able to administer your estate plan. The use of professional trustees is one of the aspects that can be discussed during your consultation.
Ancillary Documents
An estate plan is not just a will or a trust, it is a combination of multiple documents. These documents include a durable power of attorney for asset management, HIPAA authorization forms, advanced health care directives and certifications of trust. All of these documents work together with your will and trust so that your family is taken care of and can make decisions without delay in case of emergencies, long term illness and death.
Advanced Estate Planning Techniques
There are a broad range of documents and planning techniques for those who have goals beyond just taking care of your family. Charitable trusts, life insurance planning, and business succession planning are just a few of those techniques that Hunsberger Law can advise and assist you with as you plan.
Asset Protection
All of the above techniques can protect you from taxation at your death but they can also be helpful in protecting your assets from various problems that can threaten your home and accounts. Hunsberger Law can assist you with protecting what you have earned through your years of hard work.
Note that reducing taxation is a logical goal but should rarely be the primary purpose for planning. Please be prepared to discuss the most basic beliefs of your family as the starting and finishing points of your planning. To do any less is to reduce a family to caricature.
Hunsberger Law will outline an estate plan that is specifically right for you and your family while addressing your goals as well as your concerns.