Middletown Estate Planning Attorney
A Middletown estate planning attorney should be an important part of your long-term financial strategy, no matter your age. At Andrade Law Office, LLC, we work with clients both young and old, protecting their families, business, and documenting their final wishes. Learn more about Ohio estate planning — and how we might help you — below.
Why Do I Need an Estate Plan?
An estate plan is a series of documents that guide your family through your end of life and death. While most people associate estate planning with senior citizens, it can also help protect young families, business owners, and many other Middletown residents.
Depending on your circumstances, your estate plan might include:
- Last will and testament
- A living (revocable) trust that helps your loved ones avoid probate
- A plan for your minor children, including the appointment of a guardian
- A plan for disabled loved ones, including a special needs trust or guardianship
- Gifts to charities you support or a charitable trust
- Health care directives that guide your family through difficult medical decisions
- Powers of attorney that help protect your finances and business interests
- Plans for your long-term nursing care or memorial service
Not everyone needs a complicated estate plan, but many people would benefit from more than a simple will.
David Andrade knows that a well-drafted estate plan is a gift to your family. If you become incapacitated or die, it can help your loved ones direct your medical care, tend to your children, finances, and business operations, while minimizing the need for court filings and hearings. During a difficult time, an estate plan gives your family a level of security and control. Contact our Middletown estate planning lawyer today to learn more about our estate planning services.
How Can a Middletown Estate Planning Attorney Help Me?
It’s difficult to identify your long-term needs without the guidance of an experienced Middletown estate planning attorney. Too frequently, we meet with families whose loved one created a “do it yourself” estate plan — and help them clean up the mess.
Estate planning is a detailed, customized process. An online form can’t identify your specific needs and protect your family. When you work with David Andrade, he will:
- Spend time with you and get to know your unique needs
- Explain your estate planning options and educate you about their implications
- Identify possible estate planning issues that might arise — and attempt to prevent them
- Inventory and organize your assets and debts
- Create well-written documents that clearly explain your final wishes
- Guide you and your loved ones through the signing and finalization of these documents
- Educate your family and loved ones about your estate plan
- Modify your estate plan when Ohio’s laws or your family circumstances change
- Assist your family through the complicated probate process or trust administration processes
At Andrade Law Office, LLC, we believe that estate planning isn’t a one-time event. You shouldn’t just write a will, shove it in a drawer, and forget about it. Instead, you’re better off building a dynamic, comprehensive estate plan that protects your changing goals, family, and business interests. For this reason, we strive to build long-term relationships with our clients that are built on trust, respect, and common goals.
If you’d like to learn more about our refreshing approach to estate planning, contact our Middletown estate planning attorney for a no-risk consultation. We look forward to speaking with you and learning more about your circumstances.
What Happens if I Don’t Have an Estate Plan?
If you don’t have a valid Middletown estate plan, the courts will distribute your assets and property based on Ohio’s intestacy laws. These laws are essentially a formula that gives certain family members priority over others. While they might reflect many people’s general end-of-life goals, they are a cookie-cutter solution that can have catastrophic results.
Ohio’s estate laws might leave loved ones out of your estate, especially if you have children from a prior relationship or a long-term partner (but are not married). These laws also won’t direct gifts or donations to charities, churches, or other non-profit organizations. And, your family might have to go through the complicated and expensive process of identifying your heirs, filing documents with the probate court, attending probate hearings, and resolving disputes.
Consult With a Middletown Estate Planning Attorney
Middletown estate planning attorney David Andrade has served this community for over 16 years. We listen to our clients, work with them to build practical, cost-effective solutions, and guide them through every step of the estate planning process. If you’d like to learn more about our approach to Ohio estate planning, schedule a no-risk consultation with us today.
