Wills And Trusts: The Foundation Of Your Estate Plan
A will is the foundation of a comprehensive estate plan. It clarifies your wishes regarding the distribution of your assets following your death. If you have minor children, a will can also designate whom you wish to serve as the children’s guardian if you and the children’s other legal parent die or become incapacitated.
At Bruckert, Behme & Long, P.C., we help individuals in southwestern Illinois draft wills and develop estate plans that provide peace of mind. A will is not something you should postpone. If you have people in your life that you love, then you should have a will.
If you die without a legal will, it is known as dying intestate. The state will distribute your assets under rules of Illinois intestacy, which may or may not follow your wishes. If you have worked hard and accumulated any amount of assets during your life, it is a good idea to make sure those assets are distributed in the manner you desire.
Trusts Address Unique Estate Planning Needs
Many of our clients also establish trusts to address specific needs that a will does not address. Not every estate plan needs to use trusts. An attorney at our firm can review your holdings, your objectives and your family situation to help you determine if a trust is necessary.
Trusts are used to accomplish a number of unique needs, including:
- Minimizing or postponing estate tax
- Avoiding probate
- Designating assets for children from a previous marriage
- Supplementing the care of a disabled child who receives government benefits
- Establishing a charitable foundation with assets from your estate
After reviewing your family and financial situation with you, we can help you identify sensible estate planning goals and decide together how to achieve them. Many of our estate planning services are provided for a flat fee, so you will know ahead of time how much it will cost.
Don’t Postpone Drafting Your Will Any Longer
We invite you to contact us through this website or by calling 618-589-1152 to schedule a meeting with a lawyer and begin developing your estate plan. We work with clients in need of wills and trusts throughout southwestern Illinois from our offices in O’Fallon and New Baden.