You have worked hard for many years building your estate. Upon your death, what will happen to all of your hard-earned money? The Law Office of Christopher W. Caine can help you determine the best way to transfer your assets before and after death to ensure that the people you want to receive your money receive as much as possible, in the exact manner you desire.

A Will As Part of Your Estate Plan

Every estate plan should include a will. If the value of the estate is small, then a simple will may suffice to transfer your assets. If the value of the estate is larger and real estate is involved, it is probably better to have your assets held in trust and have a pour-over will as a back-up. This can accomplish many different goals, such as avoiding probate, lowering estate taxes, and directing the distribution of your property upon your death. If you die with assets outside of the trust, the pour-over will directs the assets to pour into the trust and be distributed in accordance with the trust’s directions.

Trusts

There are two basic types of trusts: revocable and irrevocable. A revocable trust can be altered during the life of the grantor (the person who creates the trust). The assets held in a revocable trust at the decedent’s death are subject to the estate tax. Conversely, an irrevocable trust generally cannot be altered after you create it. The assets held in an irrevocable trust at the decedent’s death are not generally subject to the estate tax.

For larger estates, our firm has experience in using valuation discounts and other tax-advantaged gifting strategies allowed by the Internal Revenue Service. We use specialized trusts and limited liability entities to accomplish this goal.

Executors and Administrators

While our firm can help you develop an estate plan, we also assist executors and administrators in the probate process after a person dies. Probate is the judicial proceeding required to transfer title to the deceased’s heirs or beneficiaries under a will. If you are named as the executor by the terms of the will or would like to become the administrator of the estate of a family member who did not have a will, our firm can help you to become appointed by the probate court. We can also assist you in all subsequent probate court matters and procedures until the closing of the estate.

Probate

Estate administration and probate litigation can be time consuming and confusing. A competent and experienced probate and estate administration attorney can facilitate this often-difficult process in a timely and effective manner. The probate process is lengthy, requiring strict attention to detail and experience handling multiple legal tasks at once. A knowledgeable probate attorney understands the implications of the interplay between administration, distribution and closure of an estate. If you need help in the administration of an estate, call the office of Christopher W. Caine today to discuss your probate matter.

Elder Law

Our clients deserve comprehensive and tailored legal assistance and we understand that elder law situations call for compassion, commitment and respect when handling your legal needs. It can be difficult to meet with an attorney and talk about your most personal affairs and concerns about aging, your health, and your legacy. But that’s what you must do to safeguard your estate, and more important, your peace of mind. In the complex world of elder law, you want to make sure you have someone caring for your best interests.