Is Your Estate in Good Hands?
Your estate is a big investment that you want to take care of. Work with attorneys you can trust who know the ins and outs of protecting your estate as well as creating wills and trusts.
Don't leave your future up to fate. We will help you create a secure plan so that you don't have to worry.
We Have a Plan For Any Situation Where Are You At?
Young, Single, Starting Out
Even when just starting a career, you can start planning for an effective retirement.
Start Out Right by Planning Now
It's never to early to plan for your retirement.
Many young people assume parents will take care of financial obligations and health care decisions if the worst happens. However, they can't for adult children unless they've been granted legal permission. Bypass the possibility that the state might decide the fate of your assets by putting an estate plan in order that ensures your wishes are carried out in the event that the worst happens.
What Can You Plan Today?
Even if you decide not to draw up a will now, other estate planning documents will protect you and ensure your wishes are respected if you ever become incapacitated and are unable to speak for yourself. Save your loved ones the stress, time, and money by setting a plan in place.
Who This Service is For
You might assume estate planning is only for married couples, or people who have established a large amount of assets, but single people need to plan for the worst case scenario too.
Unlike married people, singles may not need to provide protection for another person. But, you need to focus on your own protection and lay the groundwork to allow someone else to make decisions on your behalf if you find yourself unable. In addition, you may need to spend extra time thinking about where assets should pass at your death.
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You're never too young to do some basic estate planning. Drawing up a simple plan can be one of the best gifts you can give to your family and friends. Benefits of making a plan now include:
- You can choose who makes financial and medical decisions for you if you were to become incapacitated.
- A Will spells out how you want your estate distributed after your death. Without a Will, state law will make the determination, no matter what you have in mind.
- Donor-advised funds allow you to fulfill your charitable intentions, especially if you are contemplating lifetime giving or considering charity as part of your estate plan.
Thinking about your final demise can be quite a downer, but there are several situations in life when you might not be able to make decisions for yourself. A durable power of attorney, health-care proxy, and a living will are important to consider in your estate plan in order to make your wishes clear while you can communicate them.
Your end of life Will includes these factors:
- What people or organizations will inherit your property.
- Who will manage the property you leave behind.
- Who will serve as executor -- the person who will carry out the wishes in your will.
Just Married / Newlyweds
It's never too early to start planning for your future and retirement.
Newlywed Planning
It's never too soon to prepare for your future.
Estate planning is important whether you're 21 or 71. Estate planning can become especially complicated if you have been married more than once. Let us sort through your assets and help you and your spouse prepare for a bright future.
Plan Your Future Together
Develop a solid estate plan with your new spouse.
Who This Service is For
Newlyweds, get your matrimonial journey off to a great start. It's never too early to start on a clear plan for the future.
An estate plan goes much further than a will. Not only does it deal with the distribution of assets and legacy wishes, but it may help you and your heirs pay substantially less in taxes, fees, and court costs.
Free E-Book
15 Common Reasons To Do
Estate Planning
If you are thinking about estate planning read this list to see how many of these concerns resonate with you.
Want to Learn More?
The last thing you want to think about right now are the medical decisions you might have to make if you or your spouse gets sick or is the victim of an accident. However, it’s best to make these decisions when you’re happy and healthy. Creating an Advance Directive, which is comprised of your Living Will and naming a Health Care Proxy, is simple and painless. Not creating one can be difficult and painful should the situation arise.
All your accounts need to now reflect your spouse as beneficiary or transfer on death designation. Consider creating or consolidating your accounts together.
If there are going to be babies in the future, or if you already have children, you can name the all-important guardian in your Will. Update your Will to account for your new spouse.
Your Power Of Attorney (POA) has power over everything involving your finances. This includes paying bills, managing bank accounts, overseeing investments, signing contracts, and filing your taxes. You might already have Life Insurance through your job, but is it enough to support your new family if something happens to you? Consider your options with an estate planning attorney.
Sharing passcodes and passwords to your devices and systems is extremely helpful. It can also prevent lots of headaches if one of you can never seem to remember the Wifi password.
We accumulate a lot of identification and official documentation throughout our lives. Now’s the time to get it all sorted and organized in case you need it to buy a house, get insurance, or do other things as a new couple.
- Marriage Certificate
- Birth Certificate
- Social Security Card (or a place where you spouse can easily find your social security number)
- Passport
- Armed Forces ID / Discharge Papers
- Citizenship Documentation
- Prenuptial or Postnuptial Agreement
- Divorce Decree (from previous marriages)
- Documents related to any children you already have (example: adoption or legal guardianship papers)
Married/Single with Minor Kids, Young Family Planning
Our attorneys can help you balance planning for your future while caring for your children.
Ensure Your Young Family's Future Is Bright
Secure Your Family with Someone You Trust
Estate Planning with a young family is less about your assets and more about establishing future guardianship for your kids in case something were to happen to you. You can also map out the transfer of your estate assets to your child when and how you deem fit.
Protection for Your Family
We can help you secure a bright future for your young family under any circumstances. Let's look at all of your options together.
Free e-book
Estate Planning Basics For Families With Young Children
Access the book on Estate Planning Basics For Families With Young Children to learn about what would happen to your kids if the unthinkable happened and ways to best protect them.
Who This Service is For
Young couples with children are usually in the beginning stages of their careers, and might not have an estate large enough to be affected by the estate tax upon their deaths.
Nevertheless, there are many non-tax reasons for couples with young children to develop an estate plan. An estate plan generally refers to a will, a power of attorney, and an advance medical directive.
When you hold your newborn, you instinctively need to protect them, and dream about what future endeavors they may experience in life. But what if tragedy strikes and you are taken from your children? It’s nearly incomprehensible to consider, but part of loving and protecting your family is providing for every possibility.
Without estate planning, your family’s future will be decided by the judicial system. Setting up an plan now, no matter your financial situation is essential, especially for families with young children.
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Naming a guardian in your Will provides the best evidence for who the parents would like to make decisions for their children. Take into account the proximity of guardian's residence to a child's current home, lifestyle, religious belief, and financial situation. It's best when both parents name the same guardian in their Wills to avoid confusion. Be sure to ask your preferred guardian if they are willing to care for your children in case of tragedy.
Without an estate plan in place, the transfer of estate assets would be handled by the child's guardian, who would also need court approval to spend principal form the estate account. Once the child reaches 18 years of age, all assets in the estate would be directly given to the child regardless of his or her ability to manage the money. An estate plan would safeguard these assets through a minor's Trust with a named Trustee to manage, invest, and distribute according to your set terms.
Parents of a child with special needs should create a Third-Party Funded Special Needs Trust to hold assets for the child with special needs in lieu of a minor’s trust.
A surviving spouse is typically named executor of a Will. A successor executor should also be named in case the spouse is also unavailable. This individual would be responsible for gathering the assets of the estate, liquidating and selling assets, and distributing them to the heirs according to the Will. Each spouse may name their own successor executor. Co-executors may also be named.
You should also contemplate a Power of Attorney and Advance Medical Directive. The Power of Attorney allows you to choose a person to act on your behalf for medical or financial matters if needed. This person would typically be the spouse. A successor agent may also be documented.
Married/Single with Adult Children
Let us help you create a plan for retirement and help you leave a legacy for your family.
Control How Assets Reach Your Posterity
Determine When And How Your Estate Is Distributed To Adult Children
Depending on the maturity and circumstances of you adult children, you may want to leave assets in a trust rather than transferring wealth outright.
A trustee can decide when adult children are ready to receive money or not -- we'll show you all of your options so you know the best way to bless and protect your children when you die.
Protect Your Legacy
You've worked hard to help your children live their best lives. We'll make sure your hard work isn't wasted.
Who This Service is For
Could you benefit from an estate plan? What is an estate plan and how is it different from a Will? Not only does an estate plan deal with the distribution of assets and legacy wishes, but it may help substantially lessen taxes, fees, and court costs. Consider your assets or if you have a Will. The personal decision to obtain an estate plan depends on more than its potential size.
Your children have a large part in whether an estate plan is right for you. Do you have special circumstances with disabilities or a blended family that could make distribution of your assets complicated? What state you are in also has an impact on your decisions. Do you have a retirement account that needs a managed distribution plan? How important is your privacy? You may need to think about succession planning for your business of if you are interested in donating to charities someday.
Free E-Book
15 Common Reasons To Do
Estate Planning
If you are thinking about estate planning read this list to see how many of these concerns resonate with you.
Want to Learn More?
When considering how much of your assets to leave to each of your adult children, etc., parents might want to treat each child fairly. But this does not necessarily mean to divide the state equally. Ponder the needs of your individual situation.
Even if your children's families seem solid at the time of your plan, you may want to think about all possible scenarios. You may want a Trust to safeguard the possibility of your child losing a large part of their inheritance in divorce proceedings after a failed marriage. Establishing a Trust as part of your Will can help provide protection against a possible divorce settlement. A Trust can also ensure your grandchildren access to the portions of your estate you wish to give them.
There are ways to structure your children's inheritance so that your money stays in the family for generations to come.
Some people leave their children an inheritance outright, immediately or from a specific age, but the property will automatically become subject to creditors' claims, including lawsuits in divorces.
Instead, you might want to contemplate a continuation of your Trust for your child's lifetime. If the Trust is drafted property, your assets will have a protective barrier against creditors or in any events they are sued or have a divorce. Your assets will remain your child's for his or her lifetime.
Openly discuss your estate plan with your children to safeguard your goals. A clear discussion allows your children to be involved with a comfortable plan without misunderstanding.
Divorced
Know your rights and how to come out of your divorce with your fair share.
Protecting Your Estate In A Divorce
Secure a fair share of your once-shared estate.
In Utah, divorce automatically revokes provisions in an estate plan naming a former spouse as a beneficiary; however, certain gifts and trusts may be irrevocable. Talking to an attorney before or after divorce proceedings can help protect you from losing your fair share of the estate, whichever end you are on.
Sorting out your estate in the event of a divorce can also help ensure your health care decisions (in the case of incapacity) won't be left to an ex-spouse you no longer trust. You'll also want to protect any surviving children from losing their share of your estate when you die.
Salvage Your Estate Before Or After Divorce
We'll help you learn which estate provisions may or may not be revocable after your divorce.
Who This Service is For
If you are considering divorce or beginning the process, reviewing your estate plan is essential to make sure it reflects your life change. While in the process of a divorce, your current spouse has certain rights. You want to be sure you're meeting legal obligations to your spouse while maintaining control over your assets the way you would prefer.
It doesn't matter how far along your divorce is or how long it's been pending, the law considers you legally married until the final decree ending the marriage is signed by the judge.
If you died or became disabled prior to the final decree, your estranged spouse may have legal control over your estate, entitled to most if not all of it. This is important to consider when addressing your estate plan.
Want to Learn More?
An estate planning attorney will create documents that spell out your wishes, generally contained in at least five documents.
- A Revocable Living Trust
- A Healthcare Power of Attorney
- A Living Will
- A Financial Power of Attorney
- A Last Will and Testament.
You may also like to find out what you can and cannot alter, decide what to leave your spouse, look at your prenuptial (or postnuptial) agreement. We can answer your questions.
When choosing a Trustee, consider these questions with your planning attorney.
- Who do you want to nominate as guardians for any minor children?
- If you become unable to communicate your wishes about your own healthcare decisions, then who do you want to handle those decisions?
- Are there any specific burial or cremation wishes you have?
- If you are diagnosed as terminal and incurable or in a persistent vegetative state, do you want to be left on life support?
Be sure to revisit the plan after the divorce is finalized.
After the Death of a Spouse
Let us help you adjust to the death of a loved one so you can get back on your feet.
Protect Your Joint Legacy
Learn What Assets You And Your Family Are Entitled To
Whether your spouse had a will or not, Utah law will determine how much of your spouse's estate is distributed. We'll help you learn if you are entitled to the entire estate, or whether assets must be distributed amongst children or other relatives.
Who This Service is For
After the death of a spouse, the last thing the surviving spouse might do is think about the estate. However, it is essential to contact your estate planning attorney soon to avoid any unpleasant consequences later. As you notifying friends, family, and colleagues, arrange the funeral, and manage grief, be sure to also address estate concerns.
At this difficult time, it might be tempting to settle these issues on your own. But even small mistakes during this exhausting time can cause serious problems. Special attention must be given to paperwork and legal details to avoid acting slightly outside the law, even by mistake. Alone, you are vulnerable to appear as having criminal intent. Your own personal estate and assets might be placed at risk by performing executive duties incorrectly.
This is why it is crucial to allow your estate planning attorney to provide support. It's our job! Allow us to implement our extensive training and experience to benefit your family's estate.
Making A New Game Plan
Secure assets and reassess your future.
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Along with time-sensitive developments affecting the estates, here are the basics covered by estate planning.
- Notification to the post office, IRS, social security offices
- Handing email & social media accounts
- Contacting employer about benefits & pensions
- Take stock of outstanding credit & debts
- Canceling policies with health insurance
It is possible to complete these tasks without an estate planning attorney, but we will be available to answer questions or assist you during these processes.
We also review wills and trusts to clarify your specific role in carrying out the wishes expressed. We will also assess the need for probate and if needed begin that judicial process at the appropriate time.
Taking a deceased spouse's unused estate tax exemption and transferring it to your own plan is termed "portability." A new IRS regulation has made it possible to take advantage of Portability even if you haven't elected to it since it came into effect in 2011. The rule allows surviving spouse to file for late portability, which can save significant taxes and create more opportunities for future plans. Even if your spouse passed away years ago, you might be able to access portability.
We will also contact other professionals who worked with your deceased spouse, like tax or financial planners, to make sure we are not missing anything.
After loss of a spouse, you will be grieving and healing. Know that you are not alone to manage the complicated and confusing tasks of his or her estate. Let us support you in managing the legal and financial side of things.
Remarried / Blended Family
Blending families can get confusing, let us help you plan your retirement in the best way.
Design a Plan that Supports Everyone
Create a Plan Now to Avoid Undesirable Surprises Later
Blended families need a plan for possible future scenarios to secure family dynamics remain healthy. Determining your goals and priorities now includes providing for your children, making provisions for your spouse, and considering your ex-spouse as well. Keeping your accounts updated and writing documents to divide your estate now will help keep the peace later.
Prioritizing Your Loved Ones
Set goals and priorities, understand the realities, and execute official documents now so you can feel at ease.
Who This Service is For
Blended families take several forms. A few examples include:
• Married couples with children from a previous relationships.
• Families with adult children who have children from previous marriages.
• Families with children whose spouses have children from previous marriages.
Whatever unique shape your family creates, it is important to safeguard your love ones with a plan. Estate planning for blended families is much more complicated than for any other group. Each spouse brings different assets into the marriage and different objectives for passing wealth among children or to each other from different marriages.
Openly discussing matters and expressing intentions clearly through legal documents will likely address the needs of your unique family perfectly.
Free E-Book
Estate Planning Basics For Families With Young Children
Access the book on Estate Planning Basics For Families With Young Children to learn about what would happen to your kids if the unthinkable happened and ways to best protect them.
Want to Learn More?
In a blended family, some examples of challenges in estate-planning include:
• The potential for disinherited children.
• Delay receipt of inheritance to children’s until after the death of their parent’s spouse.
• The need to protect assets from former spouses.
• Disputes over the division of authority/responsibility.
Depending on a family’s situation, an estate planning attorney can select a strategy fitting for you. Here are some things to consider.
- Premarital/Marital Agreements
- Life Estates
- Contracts to make a Will
Another strategy is in creating various kinds of Trusts to address your specific situation.
- Spray Spendthrift Trust(designed for surviving spouse/children)
- Bloodline Trust (designed for children/descendants)
- Irrevocable Life Insurance Trust - ILIT (lets you provide for children's life insurance & use remaining estate to provide for your spouse)
- Qualified Terminable Interest Property (QTIPs) Trust
- Disclaimer Trusts
Empty Nesters / Pre-Retirement
Feeling a little lost after your kids all leave the house? Get your plans in order for retirement.
Plan Your Third Act
Get Ready To Enjoy Retirement
As grown children leave your home, you may be realizing that life is changing more quickly and drastically than you imagined. You've most likely been so wrapped up in paying for college that you've forgotten to think about retirement.
Let's make a plan for the coming decades of your life. We'll make sure you and your family enjoy what you've worked so hard for -- for decades to come.
Plan Your Retirement
If you're just a few years away from retiring, now is a fantastic time to assess your assets. Get ready to enjoy a fulfilling future.
Who This Service is For
If you made a will when your kids were little, your first priority might have been choosing a guardian. Now that the kids are grown and out of the house, a guardian is no longer necessary, your estate plan may needing an update more than you realize. It's important to address new issues you face in mid-life and old age.
Whether you have a will from your children's toddler years or you never got around to making one, the years after your kids leave home are an excellent time to take care of your own estate plan.
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You’ve probably been allocating 10 to 15 percent of your income towards retirement throughout the years. Now that you have fewer financial obligations, it's a good time to maximize your contributions, prioritizing your retirement during the empty nest years.
Many parents give direct financial support to children well into their independent adulthoods. Help them prepare for the future by reducing the handouts now, but stop suddenly. Set a deadline for a clean break. Your children may have made financial choices that make them reliant on the support. Cut down gradually and be clear as to when the handouts will end as you plan for their full financial independence.
Take a second look at your insurance and adapt according to what your needs are now, particularly consider: Life Insurance, Umbrella Liability, or Long-term Care Insurance.
With small children, most often assets are left to the spouse or put in a Trust for the children to be allocated to them at a certain age. Once children are grown, the Trust may not be needed anymore, or you may want to adjust the age when their inheritance is given.
Other life circumstances, family businesses, and family dynamics can affect the way you'd like to distribute assets. The estate planning process helps you find a fair, practical solution to provide for everyone, reducing family conflict after you're gone.
Retirement / The Golden Years
Are you ready to relax after a life of hard work? We're here to help.
Leave a Legacy for Your Loved Ones
Prepare now to secure the inheritance you leave behind.
We can help you avoid having your assets eaten up by taxes and expenses by making a plan now to ensure your legacy remains with your loved ones where it belongs.
Securing You and Your Family's Future
The complexity of estate planning strategies and tax codes can be intimidating, but if you ignore the need for a plan, it can be costly for your heirs. Even if you don't have a lot of money in the bank, we can help you make an inheritance plan that is right for you.
Who This Service is For
Retirement planning is broad and should include a comprehensive estate plan. While retirement planning is something you can do with the help of a financial advisor, only a qualified attorney can assist you with estate planning.
Free E-Book
Grandparents' Guide To Planning For Your Grandchildren
Access our e-book on why estate planning is not only important for you but also your adult children in order to protect and put a plan in place for the futures of your grandchildren.
Free E-Book
Calculating The Benefits of Living Trusts
Access our e-book on the attributes of living trusts include avoiding probate, sometimes lowering taxes, protecting privacy, and more.
Want to Learn More?
An estate plan can be put in place at any age. It's never too early. Your retirement is a perfect place to access the future plans for your estate under any circumstance.
Take stock of your assets, including investments, retirement accounts, insurance, real estate, interests and valuable items (financially or emotionally). Decide what you would like to achieve with your assets and who you would like to inherit them. Think about people you trust to handle your affairs and medical care in the event they are needed.
Discuss your plans with your heirs. The more clearly you outline all your intentions with friends and family, the less confusion or disagreements will occur when you are no longer available.
The welfare of children is often a high concern to address appropriately with your estate plan. Your estate plan should be reviewed often with the changes that occur in your family and circumstances, such as in new births, other deaths, adoptions, divorces, etc. Make sure your plan always meets your current needs and future anticipated ones.
An estate plan minimizes expenses, delays, and loss of privacy during the probate process. Anyone can gain access to the probate court. Relatives and creditors could challenge your will with access to probate records. You can also lessen expenses and fees with a stable plan in place, as well as limit the delays that can occur in the probate process. Proper planning can avoid these delays, costs, and loss of privacy.