You have worked hard to provide for and protect your family over the years, but what will happen after you are gone? Comprehensive estate planning is the most effective way to preserve your estate and provide for your loved ones when you pass away. At Rivers Law, we are not only knowledgeable of the laws and practical aspects of estate planning, probate administration, and trust administration, but we also know the laws governing business organizations, real estate, personal property, and taxes. With our experience in these areas, we can provide practical planning advice from a comprehensive, multifaceted perspective.
An estate plan can relieve your family members from unnecessary burdens later on. Although estate planning may require you to spend some time and legal fees on the frontend, you will be able to spare your family members a tremendous amount of time, effort, and probate fees upon your death or incapacity. Many clients say they feel relieved after they have completed their estate planning.
When it comes to estate planning, most people are familiar with the basic concept of a Last Will and Testament. This document is designed to direct the distribution of the assets of your estate according to your wishes. However, a comprehensive estate plan should address much more than that. A plan should address health care and incapacity issues. It should also specify whom you would like to appoint to serve as your fiduciaries. If you have minor children, one of the most important reasons to have an estate plan is to name the guardian(s) of your minor children. An estate plan should also establish trusts for the benefit of the surviving spouse and children, when appropriate.
We carefully listen to your goals and analyze your assets to formulate an effective estate planning strategy that will meet your needs. By implementing the correct planning techniques, your assets will be transferred in accordance with your wishes, in a tax-efficient manner, and can remain protected after you are gone.
Our experienced estate planning attorney can assist you and your family with more advanced planning, which may include the following planning techniques:
Rivers Law serves families who have a loved one with special needs. We can customize your estate plan so that you may leave assets for the benefit of your special needs child while preserving important public benefits available to him or her. We understand that children who have special needs require additional planning, and we carefully listen to your specific situation and concerns so that we can make recommendations and tailor a plan which will provide for your love one throughout their lifetime.
Many of our estate planning clients are also business owners. Business planning often goes hand-in-hand with estate planning, and each requires careful coordination with the other. We frequently assist clients with the various stages of a business, ranging from the formation of a start-up company to the continuous management of a well-established entity. We advise clients of the tax and practical considerations of different types of entities and provide services to keep the business going.
We work with our clients to achieve their business objectives efficiently and effectively. Our services include: