Wills, Trusts, and Living Wills Lawyer Trenton

It is a very unsettling thing to think about, but it is important for everyone to have their affairs in order, so that they are prepared in the event that they become very ill or pass away. With proper estate state planning, you can ensure your family is taken care of, your assets are protected, and taxes on your estate are limited. We will help you assemble and file all the proper documentation, and ensure that your family receives all to which they are entitled.

Wills

A Will is a document that distributes assets in the event of someone’s death. A person is able to distribute money and other financial holdings, property, and important possessions to the relatives, friends, and/or organizations of their choosing. A Will may also contain a person’s last wishes, such as how they want their body to be dealt with upon their death. In the tragic event that a couple with young children dies at the same time, the will may also specify who will become the legal guardian of the children. The death of a loved one can be a deeply trying time, but having a will in place will ease the burden associated with this tragic situation.

Living Wills

A Living Will allows a person to make their wishes known if they were to enter an irreversible vegetative state or suffer from a terminal illness. This can include a Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order. This informs medical caregivers that they do not wish to have artificial or extreme medical procedures used in order to keep them alive. In the same situation, a living will may also give Medical or Financial Power of Attorney to a loved one, generally a spouse. This leaves the designated person in charge of decisions regarding the healthcare of the terminally ill person, and may be set up to include their financial decisions as well.

Trusts

A Trust is when one person (the settlor) puts property (money, land, possessions, etc.) into the possession of another party (the trustee) to be held for a third party (the beneficiary). There are many reasons to create a trust, including privacy, tax purposes, and estate planning, among others. Trusts often have stipulations.  These can designate that they must be used for a certain purpose, such as college, or that they may not be able to be used until the beneficiary has reached a certain specified age. If you would like to set up a trust, please call us today for a free consultation.

This content was written on behalf of Greg Prosmushkin.