Will and Successions
After working most of your life to build an estate to pass on to your children or a business that will serve as your legacy, you must complete the proper estate planning steps to ensure that your wishes are respected after your death. A New Orleans wills and estates attorney will discuss your plans for what should happen after your death and draft the necessary documents to ensure that your family will understand and respect your wishes and enable your estate to pass on with minimal tax implications or probate expenses.
At J.C. Lawrence and Associates, we write wills and other estate planning documents to document the wishes of our clients. Whether you have a simple estate or a large, complex estate that includes a business and many assets, we can help you plan for the future. We make sure that your will contains provisions that provide for guardianship of your children and address any other matters that might be important in the event of your death. We also help families enforce the provisions of a will and manage the legal process in which assets are transferred.
How J.C. Lawrence and Associates Can Assist with Wills and Successions
To draft a valid will, a number of legal requirements must be met. You must be certain that you have distributed all of your assets and that your wishes are clear and apparent. Many people do not understand the legal aspects of drafting a will or the ramifications if the will is declared invalid. An estate planning lawyer can help you to create a legal document that is enforceable and minimizes any problems for your family after your death.
At J.C. Lawrence and Associates, we will make sure your will is written in a manner that complies with the law. We will ask all the right questions to ensure that your will is complete and comprehensive. If appropriate, we may recommend provisions like a “no contest” clause in order to discourage disputes among your heirs upon your death.
In certain cases, planning for the distribution of your assets after death will involve more than a simple will. In such cases, we can create trusts and other estate planning documents that address a complex succession plan. We also can assist in drafting living wills and establishing power of attorney relationships so that your wishes are respected both before and after your death.
Once death occurs, the assets must be transferred to the correct parties. When a will exists, the assets transfer through the probate process and are distributed according to the terms of the will. If no will exists, the assets transfer to next of kin based on state intestacy laws. In either situation, handling the legal aspects of succession can be complicated. The lawyers at J.C. Lawrence and Associates handle the legal process for families so they can focus on grieving for their family member.
Contact a New Orleans Estate Planning Lawyer at J.C. Lawrence and Associates
Drafting a will and planning for the distribution of your assets after death is an important process that should be handled by an attorney who respects the significance of what you have worked for and the importance of passing it along to the rightful parties according to your desires. At J.C. Lawrence and Associates, we listen to your needs and wishes, explain your options and help you draft a will and other estate planning documents that take the worry out of caring for your loved ones after you are gone. When it is time to enforce a will that your family members have left behind, we offer compassionate handling of the probate process. To get your estate plan in order, contact our New Orleans estate planning attorneys today.
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