A well drafted estate plan saves time, money, and stress for your loved ones. Making the hard decisions now is a gift to your loved ones that will last a lifetime.

Supplemental Needs Trust:

A Supplemental Needs Trust (SNT) is designed specifically to benefit and protect individuals with a physical or mental disability. Often times we do not realize that we can disqualify our loved ones with special needs from receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Medicaid benefits simply by gifting them either money or property. Through an SNT we can help you avoid common gifting pitfalls and create lasting protection for your loved ones.

“Having a Living Trust is important to me because I want my family to have what I want them to have. I have small children and I do not want some court appointed person to decide what my survivors get from my estate, or when they should receive their inheritance. I also have seen several people get their inheritance too young or without guidance and blow it. That is not why I have it for them, I want to leave it as a benefit not a problem. My Trust will also help prevent court fees eating into what I leave. I understand that taxes help us have a government but I really do not want to pay more than I have to. My Estate Plan is designed to protect me and my family, it is just too important to not do what you need to do and get a Living Trust.” – David B.

You’re expecting:

If you’re expecting or planning to extend your family in the future, congratulations! Becoming a parent is the perfect time to create your estate plans. In the midst of preparing for baby, doctor appointments, buying baby items and gearing up for the sleepless nights that await you, estate planning is likely far down on your list of priorities. However, making a plan for your family’s future is a vital part of protecting the ones you love. Naming a guardian for your new arrival before they enter the world can provide great piece of mind that you are protecting your family from the very beginning. Choosing a guardian can be one of the most difficult tasks for a parent because no one (except you) is going to be the perfect fit. However, our attorneys are skilled at walking you through the decision making process. You do not need to have all of your estate planning decisions made before you walk in the door – we’re here to help with that!

My husband and I are expecting our first child in September! It feels like there are a million things that we need to accomplish (and learn!) before their arrival. However, there is one thing we can cross off the list: our estate plan. When we created our estate plan, we wrote it with the intent that we may have children in the future. This allowed us the time to weigh our options when naming a guardian and making many of the necessary financial decisions that accompany an estate plan.

My husband and I have so many amazing family members that would be ready and willing to care for our child if necessary. However, we will always be in the best situation to determine who would be the best guardian for our child. It is very important to me that we make that decision and not leave our loved ones left guessing what our wishes were.

Once our baby arrives or if anything changes in the life of the guardians we named, we can always change our minds and amend our plan. And it is very likely that we will. As our lives change and our family changes, we may need to update our plan. However, it is a great relief to know that we have completed this extremely important process prior to the chaos that will ensue in September. Wish us luck! Brittany R., Client and WLG Attorney

You’re Buying A Home:

There are many advantages to placing your house in a trust. The main reason many individuals put their home in a living trust is to avoid the costly and lengthy probate process at death. Leaving real estate assets to a spouse or children in a Will causes those assets to pass through probate. The process can take a months or even over a year and could cost thousands of dollars regardless of the size of the estate. Since most living trusts are structured to avoid probate and its costs, it is important to include your home in your Estate Plan.

“All homeowners know how complicated even a basic real estate transaction can be.  When a closing is complete, Buyers and Sellers usually celebrate not just because they are happy, but also because they are relieved that the process is over. Regardless of the value of a home, Buyers and Sellers often must coordinate through making repairs, inspections, listing, financing, and title processes; Real estate transactions are a major sector of our economy with multiple industries of professionals that exist solely to coordinate the process of moving a property from seller to buyer. Even if it is only to handle that single, transfer on death real estate transaction, an estate plan is the only way to remove or lessen the impending chaos of the next sale of that house.  Creating an estate plan is a selfless activity; it is done for those you care about; that is why it is critical and important for everyone, regardless of a person’s wealth or assets. – Matthew K Palfreyman Client & WLG Attorney

“In the Title industry, we have occasions when a person or persons may need assistance in clearing their property through a Probate. Mark and his team have assisted me on a couple of these situations and we were able to close the transaction successfully. Without his knowledge and caring for these folks, we may not have been able to close escrow. I have not run across one lately, however, when I do, I will be calling Mark for assistance.” – Patrick B. Client WLG

You’re Starting A Business:

Conducting business through a formal entity, like a Limited Liability Company (LLC), has many benefits. First, it can provide protection against potential business creditors and business liabilities. Next, depending on the type of business, there may be favorable tax treatment available for your business or your unique tax situation. Finally, and probably most importantly, creating a formal structure for the operation and governance of your business can provide much needed discipline and other intangible benefits for your business to prosper. One size never fits all in business. Your LLC, its contracts, and its business model is unique; it is a great disservice to your business and to those whom your business serves to rely on documents that were not created with the help of a professional eye and tailored to your specific needs.

“Matthew Palfreyman at Winsor Law Group helped us with a business purchase. He was exceptionally thorough and helped us acquire another company. His customer service and knowledge are awesome and we were very pleased with the experience. I highly recommend him for any business or estate planning needs!” Geoff N. Client WLG