Estate Planning
Death is never an easy topic to discuss or think about. Unfortunately, however, it is a reality that each and every one of us will need to face up to eventually. No matter who we are, what we do, or where we are from, we will all pass away one day.
As an estate planning attorney in Elgin, SC, Bart Bartlett wants to help you make sure that your family and friends will be financially protected when you die. Of course, he also knows that you will want the answers to some common estate planning questions before you begin the process:
What is estate planning?
Put simply, estate planning is the process of creating a strategy for the allocation and handling of your assets once you have died or are otherwise no longer able to manage them yourself. For most people, these assets will generally come in the form of life insurance policies, retirement funds, real estate holdings, and cash. Whether your estate is small and simple or large and complex, proper estate planning is essential if you want everything to pass on to the next generation without any issues.
What does an estate planning attorney do?
An experienced attorney can help you with each and every step of the estate planning process. They can help you decide how best to split up your estate and then put your wishes into a legal document. For smaller estates, this may be as simple as drawing up a last will and testament. For larger and more complex estates, an experienced living trust attorney can ensure that each and every asset is passed on without issue.
As a family estate lawyer, Bart Bartlett understands that everyone has different goals in mind when deciding what to do with their assets. Many people want to simply leave everything to their children. Others would prefer to leave an endowment to a school or charity. The Bartlett Law Firm team works tirelessly to help ensure that each one of their clients has an estate plan that works for them.
They accomplish this task by performing services such as:
- Preparing power of attorney documents
- Acting as a trust lawyer to establish living trusts, irrevocable trusts, and other special kinds of trusts
- Managing the probate process if required
- Creating plans that will reduce or eliminate the tax liability of your inheritors
- Creating a last will and testament in a legally accurate and acceptable manner
- Protecting assets from creditors and other unintended beneficiaries
Put simply, estate planning attorneys like Bart Bartlett make sure that your assets are passed on according to your wishes and without causing any undue burden on your family.
Why is estate planning important?
During his time as an estate planning attorney in Elgin, SC, Bart Bartlett has seen what can happen in the absence of a proper estate plan. Family members can begin fighting over assets, unintended beneficiaries can take significant portions of the estate, and huge swathes of cash are unnecessarily paid in taxes.
For families who wish to avoid these issues, a last will and testament and proper trust planning are essential. The Bartlett Law Firm stands ready to help you with your estate planning as soon as you are ready to do so.
Do I need a lawyer for a will?
Technically speaking, you do not need to enlist the help of an attorney to create a will. However, without an experienced lawyer for wills and trusts by your side during the drafting process, you may inadvertently make mistakes or errors that end up causing problems for your family down the road. Simple issues like misspelling words or forgetting to list a financial account can lead to infighting and potential court battles.
If you would prefer to create a last will and testament that will prevent any unnecessary issues, it is best to work with a family estate lawyer. Put simply, a skilled will and trust attorney like Bart Bartlett can help you ensure that your assets end up in the hands of the right people - without the need for any lengthy and costly court battles.
The Bartlett Law Firm
In his role as an estate planning attorney in Elgin, SC, Bart Bartlett has helped countless local families create wills and trusts that work for them. He and his team would be honored to assist you too. When you are ready to begin the estate planning process, simply give the Bartlett Law Firm a call at (803) 699-2490. If you prefer to communicate via email, you can also reach out to BBartlett@BartlettLawFirm.com.