Protect Your Legacy.
Secure Your Family's Future

Yes, absolutely. Without a will, your state's intestacy laws determine who inherits your assets—and this may not align with your wishes. A will also allows you to name a guardian for minor children, specify funeral preferences, and designate an executor. Without one, the court appoints an administrator, and probate can be lengthy and expensive. Even if you have a trust, you still need a pour-over will.

A living trust (also called a revocable trust) is a legal entity that holds your assets during your lifetime and transfers them to your beneficiaries upon death without going through probate. You likely need one if: your estate exceeds $166,250 (probate threshold in many states), you own real estate in multiple states, you want privacy (probate is public record), you want to plan for incapacity, or you have complex family situations. We recommend them for most clients with significant assets.

Asset protection strategies include: 1) Homestead exemptions that protect your primary residence from creditors in most states. 2) Retirement accounts like 401(k)s and IRAs are generally protected under federal law. 3) Umbrella insurance policies provide liability coverage. 4) Business entities like LLCs can shield personal assets used in business. 5) Trusts like domestic asset protection trusts (DAPTs) offer advanced protection. The right strategy depends on your situation—we'll analyze your assets and risks to recommend the best approach.

For 2026, the federal estate tax exemption is approximately $13.61 million per person ($27.22 million for married couples). Strategies to minimize taxes include: annual gifting ($18,000 per recipient in 2024 without gift tax implications), charitable remainder trusts, generation-skipping trusts, irrevocable life insurance trusts (ILITs), qualified personal residence trusts (QPRTs), and family limited partnerships. For estates approaching or exceeding the exemption, advanced planning is essential—we'll model different scenarios to find the most efficient approach.

Without proper planning, a court may appoint a guardian or conservator to manage your affairs—and this could be someone you wouldn't have chosen. Essential documents include: Healthcare Power of Attorney to make medical decisions, Financial Power of Attorney to manage your finances, Living Will/Healthcare Directive to specify end-of-life wishes, and a Living Trust to manage assets. These documents let you choose who makes decisions and avoid court-supervised guardianship, which can be invasive, expensive, and time-consuming.

Review your estate plan at least every 3-5 years, and immediately after major life events: marriage, divorce, birth of children/grandchildren, significant asset changes (buying/selling property, receiving inheritance), move to another state, major changes in financial situation, death of a beneficiary or executor, or substantial changes in tax laws. We provide complimentary reviews and updates as part of our ongoing service to keep your plan current.

A will: Only takes effect at death, must go through probate to be enforced, becomes public record, only covers assets in your name at death, and allows you to name guardians for minor children. A trust: Takes effect immediately upon signing, avoids probate entirely, remains private, can cover assets you transfer into it during life, and allows management during incapacity. Most comprehensive plans include both—a pour-over will catches any assets not in the trust.