You've come to the right place. If you're looking for experienced legal guidance to create a will, establish a trust, designate powers of attorney, or execute a Lady Bird Deed, our team of dedicated estate planning attorneys is here to help. We understand that planning for your family's future can feel overwhelming, but you don't have to navigate it alone.
With years of experience in estate planning law, we provide personalized support tailored to your unique circumstances and goals. Whether you're just starting to think about your estate plan or need to update existing documents, we'll guide you through every step of the process with clarity, compassion, and expertise. Explore our services below to learn how we can help you protect what matters most.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What's Best - Wills or Trusts?
While both distribute assets after death, they work differently. A will goes through probate—a public, time-consuming court process—while a trust allows assets to pass directly to beneficiaries privately and often more quickly. Trusts also provide greater control over when and how beneficiaries receive assets, offer potential tax benefits, and can protect assets from creditors. Many people use both: a trust for major assets and a "pour-over" will to catch anything not transferred to the trust. We'll help you determine the best strategy for your situation.
A revocable living trust (also called a living trust) can be modified or dissolved at any time during your lifetime, giving you complete flexibility and control. An irrevocable trust cannot be easily changed or revoked once established, but offers stronger asset protection, potential tax benefits, and Medicaid planning advantages. Revocable trusts are ideal for probate avoidance and privacy, while irrevocable trusts are used for more advanced estate planning goals like protecting assets from creditors or reducing estate taxes.
This is a common misconception. While trusts can help minimize estate taxes for high-net-worth individuals, they benefit people at all income levels. Trusts help avoid probate (saving time and money), maintain privacy, protect beneficiaries with special needs, control how young adults receive inheritances, and safeguard assets from creditors or divorce. If you own a home, have minor children, or want to ensure your assets are distributed according to your specific wishes, a trust may be right for you regardless of wealth.
Without a will, state intestacy laws determine how your assets are distributed—and the results may not align with your wishes. For example, if you're married with children, your spouse may only receive a portion of your estate rather than everything. A will allows you to control exactly who receives your assets, name guardians for minor children, and designate an executor to manage your estate. It's the only way to ensure your wishes are honored.
While handwritten or online wills may seem convenient, they often contain errors, ambiguities, or fail to comply with state law requirements, leading to costly disputes or invalidation. An attorney ensures your will is properly drafted, executed, and witnessed according to your state's specific laws. We also help you consider scenarios you might not anticipate, such as what happens if a beneficiary predeceases you or how to handle digital assets.
Without a will, the court decides who raises your children—and it may not be the person you would have chosen. A will allows you to name a guardian for your minor children, ensuring they're cared for by someone you trust who shares your values. You can also name an alternate guardian in case your first choice is unable to serve. This is one of the most critical reasons parents with young children need a will.
Is it Time For a Power of Attorney?
A Power of Attorney is a legal document that allows you to designate someone you trust (called your "agent" or "attorney-in-fact") to make decisions and act on your behalf. There are two primary types, each serving distinct purposes. A Durable Power of Attorney grants your agent authority to handle financial and legal matters—such as managing bank accounts, paying bills, filing taxes, and making business decisions—if you become incapacitated.
A Healthcare Power of Attorney (also called a healthcare proxy) authorizes your agent to make medical decisions for you when you cannot communicate or are unable to make healthcare choices yourself. Most comprehensive estate plans include both documents: one to protect your financial affairs and one to ensure your medical care aligns with your wishes. Without these in place, your family may need to seek court-appointed guardianship, which is costly, time-consuming, and removes your ability to choose who makes decisions for you.
Without a durable power of attorney, no one—not even your spouse or adult children—has automatic legal authority to manage your finances. Your family would need to petition the court for guardianship or conservatorship, which is expensive, time-consuming, invasive, and public. A durable power of attorney allows you to designate someone you trust to pay bills, manage investments, handle tax matters, and make financial decisions on your behalf if you're unable to do so. It's one of the most important documents you can have.
A durable power of attorney remains in effect until you revoke it, you pass away, or a court invalidates it. The term "durable" specifically means it continues even if you become incapacitated—which is exactly when you need it most. Upon your death, your agent's authority ends immediately, and your executor or trustee takes over. Some states previously allowed powers of attorney to expire after a certain period, but modern durable powers of attorney typically remain valid indefinitely unless you specify otherwise.
Your healthcare agent can make virtually any medical decision you could make yourself, including consenting to or refusing treatment, selecting doctors and facilities, accessing medical records, deciding on surgery or medications, and making end-of-life care decisions. They cannot make decisions while you're conscious and able to communicate—you always retain control when you're capable. The agent's authority only activates when you cannot make or communicate healthcare decisions yourself.
A DNR order is a specific medical order instructing healthcare providers not to perform CPR if your heart stops or you stop breathing. It's typically used by people with terminal illnesses or serious health conditions. A healthcare power of attorney is much broader—it designates someone to make all healthcare decisions on your behalf when you cannot. Your healthcare agent can request a DNR order based on your wishes or medical circumstances, but the two documents serve different purposes. We can help you understand whether one or both are appropriate for your situation.
Yes. Once you've executed a healthcare power of attorney, you should provide copies to your primary care physician, specialists, local hospitals, and your designated healthcare agent. Keep the original in a safe but accessible place—not a safe deposit box, since it may be needed in an emergency. Many hospitals and medical systems also have registries where you can file your advance directives. We can provide you with multiple copies and guidance on proper distribution to ensure it's available when needed.
Should We Consider a Lady Bird Deed?
A Lady Bird Deed, also known as an enhanced life estate deed, is a special type of property deed that allows you to transfer ownership of your home or real estate to designated beneficiaries upon your death while maintaining complete control of the property during your lifetime. Unlike a traditional deed or transfer, you retain the right to live in the property, sell it, mortgage it, or even revoke the deed entirely without needing permission from the beneficiaries.
The primary benefits include avoiding probate court, maintaining your property tax exemptions and homestead status, and potentially protecting the property from Medicaid estate recovery claims. The deed gets its nickname from Lady Bird Johnson, as President Lyndon B. Johnson reportedly used this type of deed to transfer property to his wife while reserving rights for himself. It's an excellent estate planning tool for homeowners who want to ensure their property passes smoothly to loved ones while keeping full control and flexibility during their lives.
A Lady Bird Deed (enhanced life estate deed) allows you to transfer your home or property to beneficiaries upon your death while retaining complete control during your lifetime—including the right to sell, mortgage, or revoke the transfer without anyone's permission. Unlike regular deeds, you don't give up ownership now. Unlike trusts, there's no need to create a separate entity or retitle the property. The major benefits include avoiding probate, potentially protecting Medicaid eligibility, and maintaining full control until death. It's an excellent option for homeowners who want simplicity and flexibility.
No. Because you retain full ownership and control during your lifetime with a Lady Bird Deed, your property taxes and homestead exemption remain unchanged. You continue to receive all tax benefits as the property owner. The transfer to your beneficiaries only occurs upon your death, at which point they may need to re-establish homestead exemption if they plan to make the property their primary residence.
You retain complete authority to sell, mortgage, or refinance the property without the beneficiary's involvement or consent. If you sell the property, the Lady Bird Deed is automatically terminated, and you keep all proceeds from the sale. The beneficiary has no claim to the property or its value unless they inherit it after your death. This is what makes the Lady Bird Deed "enhanced"—you have far more control than with a traditional life estate deed.
Wills & Trusts
Whether you need a straightforward will to designate beneficiaries and guardians or a sophisticated trust to maximize control, privacy, and tax advantages, we'll design an estate plan tailored to your family's unique needs and goals. For more information, schedule a free consultation today.
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Protecting What Matters Most
Protecting your family's assets requires a comprehensive estate plan that addresses both what happens to your property after you're gone and who can manage your affairs if you become incapacitated. A well-crafted will ensures your assets are distributed according to your wishes and provides guardianship for minor children, while a trust offers enhanced control, privacy, and the ability to avoid the time and expense of probate. Equally important are powers of attorney—both durable and healthcare—which designate trusted individuals to make financial and medical decisions on your behalf if you're unable to do so, preventing the need for costly court-appointed guardianship. An experienced estate planning attorney guides you through this process, ensuring all documents work together seamlessly, comply with state laws, and are tailored to your family's unique circumstances. We help you anticipate potential challenges, maximize asset protection, and create a plan that provides true peace of mind for you and security for those you love.
Thank you for visiting our site and considering us for your estate planning needs. It would be our pleasure to work with you during this important time in your life. We pride ourselves on a process that is fast, efficient, and done right the first time, ensuring your documents are legally sound and tailored precisely to your goals. Every client matter is handled with the utmost confidentiality and professionalism—your privacy and trust are paramount to us. When you choose the Estate Planning Attorneys, you're choosing a team committed to addressing all of your estate planning and asset protection needs with the expertise, care, and attention to detail you deserve. We look forward to helping you secure your family's future and achieve lasting peace of mind.
Giving you a Peace of Mind
True peace of mind comes from knowing your loved ones are protected, your wishes will be honored, and your family won't face unnecessary legal battles or financial hardship during already difficult times. With a comprehensive estate plan in place, you eliminate the uncertainty and stress that comes from leaving critical decisions to state law or the court system. Your assets will pass to the people you choose, not those determined by intestacy laws. Your minor children will be cared for by guardians you've personally selected, not appointed by a judge. If you become incapacitated, trusted individuals you've designated—not strangers—will manage your finances and make healthcare decisions that align with your values. By taking action now, you spare your family from the emotional and financial burden of probate delays, guardianship proceedings, and conflicts over your care or estate. Estate planning isn't just about documents—it's about the confidence that comes from knowing you've done everything possible to protect the people who matter most. Let us help you achieve that peace of mind with a plan designed specifically for your family's future.
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