Protect Us

 

First and foremost your Estate Plan should protect you and (if you are married) your spouse.  There are a number of ways your Estate Plan can do this, such as the following:

 

• Health Care Authority.  Appoint each other to handle your health care matters if you become unable to handle this for yourself.  Your adult children (or other family members) can be appointed as backkup successors in case your spouse is unable to do this.  This is accomplished through a health care power of attorney / directive.

• Financial Authority.  You can appoint each other to handle your financial matters in case you become unable to do so.  You can also name your adult children (or other family members) as backup successors in case your spouse is unable to do so.  A financial power of attorney is used to accomplish this.

• Financial Support.  You can provide that your financial and personal assets remain available for each other upon the death or disability of either of you.  This is typically handled through a revocable living trust.

• Estate Taxes.  You can adopt certain steps to reduce potential Estate Taxes.

• Probate Court.  By titling your assets to your revocable living trust, you can avoid Probate Court.

• Child/Grandchildren.  By using a revocable living trust you can protect your children and grandchildren for a long time.

• Vacation Home.  By using a vacation home trust you can keep a vacation home happily in your family for your children and grandchildren.