St. John Estate Planning Attorneys

St. John Estate Planning Attorneys

Most people are aware that estate planning is a vital task, but many feel clueless about how to do it or where to start. If this sounds familiar, the good news is that building an estate plan is often easier than you think when working with an experienced St. John estate planning lawyer.

Estate planning is important because, among other benefits, it can allow you greater control over who will receive your property after your death. Spagnolo & Hoeksema, LLC, can help see that your desires become a reality and that your wishes for your family and estate after your passing are abundantly clear.

Estate Planning Services in Indiana

Spagnolo & Hoeksema, LLC, provides a wide range of estate planning services, including assisting clients with:

• Establishing and administering trusts
• Drafting and updating wills
• Nursing home planning
• Creating powers of attorney

There can often be much more to estate planning than just these services. Our firm will ensure that we address your long-term plans and keep any unique needs in mind, regardless of whether your wishes are relatively simple or extremely complex.

Do You Need More Than a Will?

While having a will in place is an important step in making sure your wishes will be carried out, and all of your assets go to the right beneficiaries following your passing, an estate plan can involve far more than just the simple preparation of a will. There are many other considerations that a will might not cover.

One important area could be health care decisions and who you will entrust to care for you should you be unable to make decisions regarding your own health care. Healthcare powers of attorney and living wills are legal documents that can specifically state who medical professionals can look to for answers regarding your continuing care.

Another important component of an estate plan concerns beneficiary designations. While certain possessions and assets may be passed on to heirs without being explicitly mentioned in a will, you may need to designate your desired beneficiaries when you have insurance plans, pensions, or other assets.

Estate planning could also include durable powers of attorney, letters of intent, or guardianship designations. If you do not know which estate planning documents you need to have, contact the St. John estate planning attorneys at Spagnolo & Hoeksema, LLC.

Think About Your Executor

The executor is the person who will be in charge of managing your estate after your death. An executor’s responsibilities can include handling and finalizing the probate process, protecting the assets of the deceased and the estate, paying all creditors, and distributing assets as outlined in the will or trust. When a person fails to specify an executor, this can complicate the process and may lead to rifts in the family or cause unneeded tension.

You want to name an executor that you can trust, namely a person you can have honest conversations with about your financial wishes. It should also be a person you can count on to uphold your wishes and distribute your assets in the manner you want.

An executor may also be a beneficiary, as many parents designate their children or spouses to be the executors of their estates. However, non-family members can also be named as executors when people feel more comfortable with a neutral third party overseeing the details of their final wishes.

When determining who to nominate as the executor of your estate, guidance from experienced St. John estate planning attorneys can help you sort through all of your options. It will be beneficial to get an objective, outside opinion on selecting an executor, and a lawyer can provide the legal advice you need to make the most informed decision as it relates to your circumstances.

Call Us Today to Schedule a Free Consultation with a St. John Estate Planning Lawyer

Estate planning is not a task you want to take lightly. People who attempt to do this on their own often make costly mistakes and overlook important details such as tax implications. In addition, estate planning documents typically need to follow certain state laws to be valid, and navigating this process without experience is challenging.

The attorneys at Spagnolo & Hoeksema, LLC, assist clients in ensuring that assets are handled properly and can tailor an estate plan to your unique needs. Our team is highly experienced in estate planning and can take you through the entire process with compassion and attention to detail. Call our knowledgeable St. John estate planning attorneys today for a free consultation so we can discuss what we can do for you.