Estate Planning Attorneys Ready to Help with Wills, Trusts, and Estates

There are many tools in the estate planning attorney’s toolbox, including wills and trusts. Estate administration involves managing the estate of someone who passed away. After debts and taxes are paid, what remains is distributed according to state law or a will. Stephenson Rife is here to be your family’s trusted advisor in important estate planning matters impacting you and your loved ones.

Estates, Trusts, and Wills

Our Shelbyville estate planning attorneys can talk to you about your needs and goals so we can suggest the right estate plan for you. It could include a will, trusts, or both.

• Will – This is a legal document stating how you want your assets to be treated after you pass away. It can include leaving money to a charity and important people in your life. Without a will, after your debts and taxes are paid, remaining assets will be given to your next of kin. A will can also state who you want to be the guardian for your children, and you can also name who you want to administer your estate.
• Trust – A trust creates a framework where you will be able to set aside money or assets to benefit yourself, someone else, or a nonprofit. It can go into effect during your life after you create instructions for the trustee (the person responsible) and fund the trust. A trust could also be funded by the proceeds of your estate after you pass away.

When you work with ourestate planning attorneys, we will:

• Determine your planning goals for yourself and your family
• Create a list of the assets you own
• Discuss the best options to accomplish your goals and objectives with the assets you have
• Implement the estate plan
• Review your estate plan on a regular basis

Our firm takes a holistic approach to estate planning for clients. We can help with more than just wills and trusts, however, as we provide services for powers of attorney, advance directives, transfer on death deeds, business succession planning, funeral planning, and more.

Consult with Our Will and Trust Lawyers in Shelbyville, Indiana

What approach is right for you? It all depends on your assets, what you want to accomplish, and when you want your goals to be met, and our Indiana estate planning lawyers can help you make key decisions.

A will has no effect until you pass away. A trust, meanwhile, can go into effect as soon as there’s a trustee and assets are put aside to fund it. Trusts are part of Medicaid planning strategies. They may result in government benefits’ paying for your long-term care, saving your assets to meet your other needs, or allowing them to help others. Talk to one of our Greater Indianapolis trust attorneys to see if they’re a good fit for you.

Estate Management and Will Contests

The personal representative for the estate has many important jobs. He or she needs to inventory the deceased’s assets, organize outstanding bills and taxes, pay them as needed, and distribute what remains based on the will, or follow the requirements as laid out by state law if there is no will. Our dedicated will attorneys work with personal representatives to help them properly do the job. In some cases, we can also challenge a personal representative’s actions on behalf of beneficiaries if there is cause to do so.

Some of the most complex cases involve blended families, non-traditional assets (i.e., mineral rights, works of art, etc.), and business succession planning. In one particular case, our trust and will lawyers were able to assist a client with establishing a business plan for one child to inherit the client’s small business while also providing for another child, who was not interested in the business and had a gambling addiction. There are ways to provide for a loved one over time without that individual receiving his or her entire inheritance all at once, and we were able to facilitate this to help the family.

How Our Will Contest Attorneys Help Our Clients

A will must be proved valid before the estate can go forward. There are several ways in which it may not be valid. A will may not meet technical requirements, or it may be fraudulent or the result of undue influence on the one creating it. In these situations, our estate lawyers can work with the personal representative to help determine the right outcome. We also help parties who are challenging or defending a proposed will.

One of the biggest mistakes people make with estate planning is avoiding it altogether. Many people are overwhelmed at the thought discussing death, their assets, and what will happen to their assets once they pass away. If you die without an estate plan, state statutes will govern who receives your estate assets, and the state’s statutes may not align with your wishes.

Our will and trust attorneys can ensure your desires are fulfilled. We take a very personalized approach to trust and estate planning. It’s not a one-size-fits-all area of practice, as each client’s goals are specific and important. We work with our clients to accomplish their goals in the most beneficial way for their families.