Westfield Estate Planning Attorney
Guiding New Jersey clients through estate planning
Estate planning is an important part of life. If you have accumulated assets over your life, you probably have a vision of how you would like to distribute them after you pass. Though it is a difficult topic to bear, estate planning benefits you and your family. Without drafting testamentary documents, including a will or trusts, your assets could be allocated by a court, often against your wishes. Furthermore, drafting these important documents can save your family stress while they focus on healing. If you are ready to address the topic of estate planning, you should contact an attorney to compassionately ease you through this tough subject and help you secure your vision of the future. If you need quality legal services, contact Joseph Gachko, Attorney at Law for an initial consultation.
Should I make a will or a trust?
It is very important to have a will. It allows for your family to know exactly how to handle your estate when you pass. It must be in writing and witnessed. Generally, it functions to establish who will inherit property and identify an executor to carry out your wishes. A will protects your vision from a court arbitrarily deciding how your estate should function and it protects your family from the possibility of litigation.
A trust is a great tool used to manage the assets of an estate. The benefits of a trust include the passing of assets outside of probate, time and money saved, and the reduction of taxes. There are many options to choose from and establishing which trust is right for you is in your best interests.
What is a healthcare directive?
If you have a vision of how your last moments should be spent, you should write out your medical wishes. When you cannot make decisions for yourself, a healthcare directive can save your family the stress of trying to meet your wishes or fight for what they believe would be your wishes. Your declaration is called a living will. In order to do this successfully, you will need to execute a power of attorney.
Power of Attorney
You should consider assigning someone as your attorney-in-fact, also known as your agent, in order for your wishes regarding finances and healthcare to be properly executed. This is done through a document called a power of attorney. This allows for someone to act in your place when you cannot. He or she does not need to be an attorney. In many cases, clients pick someone they trust to act in their stead and handle all of the affairs when they cannot. To draft a power of attorney, it would be best to consult with an attorney and retain legal services.
Contact a Union County law firm to guide you through the process of estate planning
If you need an attorney with the compassion and knowledge to ease you through the process of estate planning, contact Joseph Gachko, Esq. Attorney Gachko has been a legal resource for New Jersey for many years. His estate planning practice has helped countless clients address this important topic and secure their wishes for the future. If you need quality legal services, contact Joseph Gachko, Attorney at Law.