Kirk Estate Planning

Many people know they should write a will or create a trust, and then they don’t, for a variety of reasons. It could be that they don’t know which attorney to hire, how much it will cost, or they fear it will be a difficult, complicated process. As an experienced estate planning attorney with upfront pricing, my services solve many of those problems. But it’s also good to remember that an estate plan is about a lot more than just money, so even if you don’t feel like you have a lot, there are many purposes for your plan. A complete estate plan allows you to accomplish important goals. For example: An estate plan offers guidance to your loved ones during a difficult time. Creating an estate plan is a truly a gift for your family, so that they aren’t left with too many challenging decisions, wondering whether they’re following your wishes or questioning what you would have wanted. An estate plan provides healthcare instructions in case you are incapacitated and unable to speak for you

Trusts and wills have the same essential function: passing your property to your heirs after your death. However, the differences in how the two documents operate should be carefully considered before choosing between them. A trust offers several advantages over a will. First, a trust enables your heirs to avoid probate, whereas wills are required to go through probate. Probate is the process through which a court transfers ownership of your assets to the people designated in your will. For example, the probate court would supervise the sale of your home and the distribution of the proceeds in accordance with the will’s named beneficiaries. There can be significant fees and delays associated with probate, and if you die and your heirs need access to money immediately, probate will make that unlikely. In contrast, with a trust, you first create it, and then you designate your various assets (retirement accounts, bank accounts, homes, cars, life insurance, etc.) to be transferred to