Whether you are planning for retirement, or deciding how best to distribute your estate to your selected heirs, it is critical that you work with a knowledgeable and experienced estate planning attorney, like Bruce Hoffman, that also has an advanced tax law degree to ensure that your planning will not cause unexpected tax consequences. The ever changing estate and gift tax laws, the possibility of contests and audits over how you want to distribute or distributed your estate, can be daunting and leave families in turmoil. If you do not properly declare your intentions through will, trusts, powers of attorney, and health care directives, the results can be devastating. 

There are two very important reasons to take control of your estate and your needs now. First there may be a time, due to your health, that you are unable to legally make important decisions about your well being and assets. Second, as important, the assets that you have acquired during your life, and how they are distributed after you pass on, will only go to who you want, and in what form, if you have done the proper planning when able, otherwise statutes and the Courts will decide where your assets will go and the result may be not at all what you would have wanted. 

One may think that a spouse or child can handle your affairs if you become incompetent, but without proper planning your assets will be lost paying for your care and they will need to petition the Court for a conservatorship, with the associated expense and stress, plus having to demonstrate to a Judge each year how your money is being spent and how you are being taken care of. 

Another issue is second marriages and what the children from each marriage receive. Also, you want to make sure minors that might receive part or all of your estate are protected, e.g. with education trusts, plus special needs trusts for any heirs that might be disabled. 

Also, you might have property or business interests in several states or countries that could result in expensive and time consuming proceedings in multiple jurisdictions without planning. 

The point is with the correct planning all types of issues can be addressed and customized to meet your individual needs, Bruce Hoffman understands the complexities of estate planning, how to properly arrange your affairs, and how preparing now can help your loved ones can deal with the pain, suffering and emotional trauma of your passing, without also having to worry about protecting your assets and safeguarding your legacy. INCLUDING:

Wills, Powers of Attorney, Advance Directives, Conservatorships, Elder Care

Complex/Custom Trusts, Revocable, Irrevocable, Generation Skipping, Charitable, Life Insurance, Special Needs, Real Estate, Q-Tip, Education, Grits/Grats/Gruts