A Plan Built for Life.
A comprehensive estate plan does more than determine what happens to your assets after death. It provides a plan for the people you love, protects you during incapacity, and gives those you trust the authority to act when you cannot.
Estate Planning, explained
Estate planning is more than deciding who gets what.
Estate planning begins during life.
Powers of attorney for property and healthcare allow you to choose who can make important financial and medical decisions if illness, injury, or incapacity leaves you unable to act for yourself. A properly designed plan helps ensure the people you trust have the authority they need when you need them most.
Understand How Your Assets Transfer
A Will is Not a Probate-Avoidance Tool.
One of the most common misconceptions in estate planning is that having a will keeps an estate out of probate. It does not. A will directs how probate assets are distributed and allows you to nominate important roles, but assets passing under a will still go through the probate process. How assets are titled and how beneficiaries are designated matter.
Plan for Greater Control & Continuity
A revocable living trust can provide continuity during incapacity and allow properly funded assets to pass outside probate at death. It can also provide greater control over how and when assets are distributed to beneficiaries. A trust is not necessary for everyone, which is why the right plan starts with understanding your circumstances, not selling you a particular document.
Comprehensive Estate Planning
More than a trust. A coordinated plan for life.
Your Living Trust Plan…
At Crawford Law, your Living Trust Estate Plan may include:
Revocable Living Trust
The foundation of the plan. A properly funded living trust can provide for the management of your assets during incapacity, help avoid probate, and establish how and when assets are distributed to your beneficiaries.
Pour-Over Will
Works alongside your living trust and provides instructions for assets that may remain outside the trust at death. It also allows parents of minor children to nominate guardians.
Power of Attorney for Property
Authorizes someone you trust to handle financial and property matters on your behalf when necessary, including matters involving assets that may not be controlled by your trust.
Power of Attorney for Health Care
Allows you to designate someone you trust to make health care decisions on your behalf if you are unable to make or communicate those decisions yourself.
The documents matter.
How they work together matters more.
Ready to Protect What Matters?
Whether you’re ready to create an estate plan, need guidance after the loss of a loved one, or simply aren’t sure where to begin, Crawford Law is here to help. Tell us a little about what brings you here, and we’ll take it from there.