Wills and Trusts

Estate Planning and Estate Administration
Estate Planning and Estate Administration
Your Last Will and Testament
Smart, cost-effective estate planning can lower taxes and other estate and probate costs. An estate lawyer at Going and Plank can work with you to create a legal document that clearly expresses your last wishes. A will states how your estate (i.e., the things you own) is distributed and divided and assigns the role of executor, a person in charge of the administrative duties.
Creating a clear, valid will requires thought on your part, but it’s easier if you? re assisted by an experienced estate lawyer from Going and Plank. We know which questions to ask and provide suggestions on cost-effective estate planning. We can help you address problematic family issues, and ensure that your wishes are recorded and witnessed in a way that avoids unnecessary costs, conflict and challenges.
An estate attorney from Going and Plank can also help you think through the issues surrounding the guardianship of your dependents. We’ll help you plan how long a guardianship should be in place until your assets are dispersed in full to your heirs. Click here to schedule a consultation with an experienced estate lawyer.
Living Wills
Power of Attorney
Guardianship
Trusts

Testamentary Trusts
Testamentary trusts are simply trusts that are in a will. They allow you to designate a person or firm as trustee, who is responsible to distribute the inheritance pursuant to the terms specified in the will.
If you have minors, (under the age of 21 for the purpose of inheritance) as beneficiaries in your will, a trustee can be responsible for any inheritance until the minor reaches the age of 21 or later as you so designate. You can also specify which powers the trustee has while the inheritance is in his/her or its custody. Typically, the trustee is responsible to invest the inheritance and use the money for the minor’s needs. In effect, the trustee acts as a parent until any remaining principal can be given to the beneficiary once he or she reaches 21 or any other age that is designated in the trust.
Special Needs Trust
A special needs trust can be set up for persons with special needs so that they are not disqualified from receiving the assistance that they may require by inheriting a lump sum.
If you want to find out if trusts make sense for you, contact an estate planning attorney at Going and Plank by clicking here.
Estate Administration Services
The process of managing and distributing the assets of someone who passed away is called probate. The person managing the process is called the executor. Probate of the will can be a complicated process filled with time-sensitive procedures such as paying inheritance taxes and notifying creditors. If you are the executor of the will, the legal team at Going and Plank can help you complete a variety of estate administration duties, including:
- Marshaling of estate assets
- Determination and settlement of estate debts
- Preparation of relevant tax returns
- Preparation of status reports, notices, and inventories
- Distribution of assets
- Preparation of first and final accounts
Contact us today to find out how we can help you manage the probate of the will efficiently and effectively.

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