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Estate Planning

Nobody wants to think about death, but deciding who will care for your children should they be minors at your death and what to do with your worldly possessions once you are gone, requires you to do exactly that. Besides concerns about what will happen after your death, have you considered planning for someone to make decisions for you in the event you are not able to do so?

Many people are interested in avoiding probate. Sometimes they are successful and sometimes they are not. A common misconception is that simply having a will avoids probate. Nothing could be further from the truth, as a will simply nominates a person to handle your affairs at your death and tells them where you want your property to go. Cripps & Simmons, L.L.C. can help you avoid probate.

We provide you with options that empower you to take control of these types of situations. You will be able to rest assured that when you are no longer able to control these matters, either as a result of your death or your incapacity, your wishes and desires will be carried out.

At Cripps & Simmons, L.L.C. we seek to educate all of our clients about wills, trusts, powers of attorney (general, durable and for health-care purposes), beneficiary designations and other documents designed to accomplish the estate plan which addresses the wishes of our clients. We believe it is important to educate our clients so that they can make the decisions which best suit their individual circumstances. As a result of this approach, potential clients need to come in armed only with a knowledge of the assets that they own and how they would like them distributed at their death.

Estate Planning for Special Needs

In addition, Cripps & Simmons, L.L.C. assists individuals who have disabilities plan for their long term needs. We advise parents or other family members of disabled persons on how they can effectively provide for their loved one, while still preserving eligibility for Medicaid and other assistance programs. We provide information about planning options, draft supplemental needs trusts, powers of attorney and other documents as appropriate. We also advise trustees of trusts for the benefit of disabled persons concerning trust administration and assist with tax preparation issues of such trusts.

It is never too soon to start an estate plan. As you grow older and your family and wishes change, you can always make changes. Just like when you were a toddler, taking the first step by contacting a professional is the hardest. We know this is not a topic most people want to think about, so we try to make the process as comfortable and easy as possible for our clients.

Should you have any questions or are ready to start your estate planning , please give our office a call.

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