Wills, Trusts & Estate Planning
Probate
Estate Planning is the means by which you can plan for the care of your loved ones and the disposition of your assets during your incapacity and after your death. It usually entails one or more of the following documents: Last Will & Testament, Power of Attorney for Finances, Advance Healtcare Directive (Living Will), and one or more personal or family Trusts. It may also include other documents, such as Deeds, Life Insurance Trusts, Community Property Agreements and Domestic Partner Agreements.
Probate is a division of the court sytem. It is the court where Wills are examined and ordered to be carried out, where Guardianships for children or Conservatorships for adults are established, and where Wills and Trusts can be disputed. It is also the place to go when someone died without a Will.
With a good estate plan, you will ideally never need the Probate department. Avoiding Probate ensures greater privacy, saves time and money, and reduces stress on your grieving loved ones. Estate planning also ensures that your own wishes are carried out, rather than the wishes of the court or the state, and can help you minimize estate taxes otherwise payable upon your death.*
Roemer & Harnik LLP is here to help you understand and craft an estate plan that reflects your own wishes and values. If Probate proceedings become necessary, we are advocates standing ready to help you navigate the court process. Helene P.Dreyer Koch is our resident Estate Planning attorney. When contested issues arise, she and attorney Mary E. Gilstrap work closely together, forming our probate litigation team.
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