Do you have unanswered questions?  Such as. . . Do I need a Will? What is a Trust? Should I use a Will or a Trust? What happens if I die at a time when my children are very young? Can I leave part of my estate to my disabled child? What happens if I have to go into an assisted living facility or nursing home? How would I pay for it? Will I lose everything I own? These are very common questions. The lawyers at Watkins Calcara, Chtd. can provide you with the information to necessary to answer these questions and design a plan to match your specific wishes.

MANAGING ASSETS DURING YOUR LIFETIME

Although no one desires to contemplate one’s incapacity, whether physical or mental; the best way to insure your wishes and desires are respected is to execute proper estate planning documents. One solution is a Power of Attorney document which allows you to appoint someone to act on your behalf if you become unable to do so. There are several items one should consider when signing a Power of Attorney which should be discussed with your attorney:

• Do I want my agent’s authority to be effective immediately or only at a time I actually become disabled?

• Should I limit the powers I give to my agent or should they be all inclusive?

• Should I appoint two agents? If I do, will they have to act together?

• Can I and should I name a successor agent?

• Do I want my agent to have the authority to sell my homestead?

• Can I authorize my agent only while I travel out of the country for three months?

MANAGING ASSETS AFTER YOUR DEATH

Estate planning is the process of insuring your assets pass to the people you choose after your death. There is not one correct way to create the proper estate plan. There is, however, a proper estate plan for each person, couple, and family. An estate plan that works for Mr. Jones may not be the proper estate plan for Mr. Smith. If you do not create an estate plan, the state  decides who will receive your assets. If you want to retain control over who will receive your assets at the time of your death, execution of the proper estate planning documents is a necessity. For example, those who are in a second marriage who want to insure their natural children will receive their assets upon their death, even if they predecease their spouse, an estate plan is imperative. The two most common structures used for estate planning are:

• Last Will and Testament: If a Will is used to provide instruction as to who should receive a decedent’s assets, then a probate will be required after the death of the decedent. Many are under the mistaken belief that a Will does not include probate. Probate is the process of obtaining a court’s oversight of settlement of an estate and an order to re-title the assets of a decedent pursuant to the instructions contained in the Last Will and Testament.

TRUSTS

Because of the public nature of the probate pleadings filed in court, many wish to avoid probate. If used properly, a Trust will allow your heirs or beneficiaries to distribute your assets according to your wishes with requiring participation by a court.