Our Comprehensive Services

Estate Planning

Estate planning is not for the wealthy alone, and does not deal merely with the transfer of financial wealth. In addition, it encompasses retirement, business succession, charitable, medical, disability, legacy, and gift planning. Unfortunately, many people fail to perform estate planning, with the result that their loved ones suffer emotional and financial hardship that could have been avoided. Others perform estate planning, but fail to recognize that without proper care and maintenance, their plan will not accomplish the objectives they desire. At Legacy Estate Planning, we are committed to helping our clients create estate plans that work through our LegacyBuilder Three Step Planning Process™.

Our definition of an estate plan that “works” is one in which the client maintains control of his assets during his lifetime, provides for himself and his loved ones during any period of mental incapacity, passes his wealth in a loving and purposeful manner to whom he wants, when he wants, and the way that he wants, all while reducing the overall cost of professional fees and taxes. We are able to help our clients accomplish these objectives through a comprehensive educational and formal maintenance process that results in an organized, up-to-date, effective estate plan.

Medicaid Planning

There seem to be more myths and misinformation circulating about this area of law than any other. And the consequences can be severe if you take action on the basis of what "Marge at BurgerKing" (your well-meaning but grossly misinformed friend who practices law without a license) tells you about what you need to do to qualify a loved one for Medicaid. 

For instance, if you give away all your assets to your kids before applying for Medicaid (because you've been told by Marge that you will have to do so to qualify), you may well disqualify the Medicaid applicant for a number of months or years!

Medicaid rules are so complex (and constantly changing) and involve so many moving parts, that it's not uncommon for even attorneys who do not specialize in this field to unintentionally give incorrect advice to clients.  I recently had a client who had been told by a local attorney that she had "no options" other than spending down over a hundred thousand dollars to qualify her spouse for Medicaid.  Through the implementation of Medicaid planning strategies, she was in fact able to save tens of thousands of dollars and still qualify her spouse for Medicaid.

Before taking any action, call and schedule an appointment for a Medicaid planning evaluation.  You need to get the facts and learn if your circumstances allow Medicaid planning strategies.

Probate Administration

Probate administration of a deceased person’s estate is typically required when the person dies with a will-based estate plan, or dies without a plan at all. It is a court-supervised process, the goal of which is to ensure that the deceased person’s creditors are protected and the remaining assets are distributed to beneficiaries or heirs in the manner required by law.

We work closely with the Personal Representative (Executor) of the deceased person’s estate to ensure that the administration is handled as efficiently as possible. In addition, we are trained and experienced in facilitating the resolution of family conflicts that sometimes arise during probate administration. We do our best to ensure that the deceased person’s wishes are followed, and that the family and/or beneficiaries are relieved of the burden of worrying about administrative issues.

Trust Administration

One of our goals is to assist our clients in the creation and maintenance of an estate plan that will avoid the need for probate. A living trust based estate plan, if properly established, maintained, and “funded,” avoids probate because assets are held in the trust, not in the deceased person’s name. The trust provides for administration of the estate privately, without the need for probate.

Trusts are not, however, self-administering documents. Work must be performed to ensure that the trust assets are properly managed and transferred. Trust administration involves identifying and managing the assets, paying the bills, taxes, if any, and administrative expenses, and distributing or maintaining and managing the assets as instructed in the trust

We believe that trustees should be educated as to their duties prior to their service. For that reason, we offer training workshops to our clients and the trustees that they name to administer their trusts after their disability or death. Upon disability or death, we assist the trustee in administering the estate and ensuring that all of their duties are properly performed.

Legacy Planning

At Legacy Estate Planning, we believe that assets of the heart should receive as much care and attention during the estate planning process as assets of a financial nature. This philosophy is a core principle of our mission statement and explains the reason our firm uses the word “legacy” in our name.

A recent study performed by Allianz Insurance Institute confirmed that children would much rather inherit heart assets from their parents such as a letter written to them, a recording of their memories and life lessons, or the stories that accompany their family's heirlooms, than their parents’ money. Sadly, the vast majority of estate planning professionals do not even discuss this issue with their clients, much less encourage them to create a plan that encompasses these assets of deep emotional significance.