ESTATE PLANNING

The Goal of Estate Planning is Your Peace of Mind

Imagine that you have just lost a loved one. A parent, perhaps, or a spouse. You are grieving, in shock, and you have to find the strength and the concentration to deal with the financial aftermath.

What would you want that process to look like? Would you like it to be short, private, and affordable, or would you like it to take a minimum of 8-12 months, be public, involve the probate court, and cost thousands of dollars in court and legal fees?

It’s not a hard choice, is it?

With an estate plan from The Law Office of Linda E. DeStefano,  you can take control. Ensure that your family will be taken care of if something happens to you. Ensure that if you're not able to make your own medical decisions, your family knows what you want- and the person you want to make those decisions is the person who has the legal right to make them.

The Will

A Will formalizes your wishes for the transfer of your property after you die. Typically, a Will covers property such as your house and personal belongings, your car, and your bank accounts. 

The Power of Attorney for Financial Affairs

The Power of Attorney allows you to appoint someone to manage your financial affairs. Typically, a Power of Attorney is designed to ensure that if you are not able to manage your finances yourself, the person you appoint (your “agent”) will do so for you. Your agent’s duties might include anything from paying your bills to selling your home to arranging for long-term healthcare. 

Health Care Planning Documents

The Health Care Power of Attorney allows you to appoint someone to make medical decisions for you in the event that you are unable to make those decisions yourself. You may also make a Living Will, which is a statement of your wishes regarding life-sustaining treatment. A HIPAA Release allows the people of your choice to have access to your health records.

Trusts

A Trust allows one person (the Trustee) to hold property for the benefit of another person (the Beneficiary). It can be used for probate avoidance, asset protection, and tax planning. It is also commonly used to manage assets for minor children in the event that a parent dies.