Concord Estate Planning Lawyer

Concord Estate Planning Attorney

Planning for your own passing can be understandably uncomfortable, but it can prevent estate disputes, prolonged probate processes, and ensure your assets and property end up exactly where you want them. If you live in the Concord, North Carolina area and you own a home, a business, a bank account, or simply want to plan ahead for the future, a skilled Concord estate planning lawyer is here to help.

With over 75 years of combined experience, the estate planning lawyers at Orsbon & Fenninger, LLP, in Concord, are here to support you. No matter what the size of your estate is, our legal team is dedicated to helping you find solutions to any concerns you have. Led by certified specialists in estate planning and probate law, your estate plans are in good hands when you partner with our firm.

Our skilled attorneys can help you create a trust, document your last will and testament, and even assign power of attorney to a trusted person so you can ensure your wishes are met even if you are unable to communicate.

What Is Estate Planning?

Estate planning involves creating legally enforceable plans for the distribution of your assets after you pass, or, in the case of incapacitation, after you are no longer able to communicate your wishes. It can also help your estate to avoid probate and minimize taxes. Estate planning can look different for every person, depending on the amount of your wealth, property, and other assets. It can also vary depending on your family dynamics or heirs.

Estate Planning Tools

Since every plan is unique, we customize what documents can benefit you most, depending on what your goals and desires are. We can work together with you to identify what will most effectively accomplish your needs. Some tools we use in estate planning can include:

• Last Will and Testament. A last will and testament is a document meant to detail who will inherit your property and belongings. It can also appoint a guardian for your children. A will is considered invalid if it does not meet certain legal requirements.An experienced estate planning lawyer knows the legal requirements necessary for a valid will in the Carrabus County Superior Court, where your will may need to be validated if it goes through probate. One of our primary objectives is to help you avoid probate if at all possible.
• Trust. A trust is set up to transfer assets to the trust, with a trustee in charge of those assets. Trusts can be beneficial for avoiding probate, as well as for setting up terms that any beneficiaries must meet before they will inherit. Often, trusts are set up to allow any minors or adult children with disabilities to continue to preserve assets until they come of age.
• Powers of Attorney. A power of attorney is a legal tool that can confer decision-making power upon another person, the agent, in case you are physically or mentally incapacitated. Two types of powers of attorney to consider are medical, in which case the agent would make medical decisions for you, or financial, in which case they would make financial decisions.
• Advance Directives. An advance directive can be a crucial document if you want to ensure your medical decisions are followed in the case of incapacitation. These are legally binding documents of the decisions you have made, and often involve your wishes for resuscitation, life support, or other extraordinary health measures.
• Elder Law. An experienced attorney should incorporate elder law into your estate planning, even before it’s a consideration. This would include long-term care wishes, end-of-life planning, and more.

Hire an Estate Planning Lawyer

When it comes to making sure your estate ends up in the right hands with fewer reasons for disputes, family distress, or heir conflict, our Concord estate planning attorneys can help you meet your goals. With our many years of experience helping our community members with estate planning, we can customize a thorough plan that protects your estate and your family the way you desire.

FAQs

Are Estate Planning Lawyers Worth It?

An estate planning lawyer is worth it, as they can give you peace of mind regarding the distribution of your assets after you pass. An estate planner can also strategically plan so that your estate can avoid probate, which can be an expensive and time-consuming process for your relatives or heirs. With over 66% of Concord residents owning their own home and a median home value of over $327,000, estate planning is a smart investment in your family’s future.

When Is the Right Time to Start Estate Planning?

It is wise to start estate planning when you become an adult and then to revisit it after major life events to reflect new life changes. While people often think estate planning is for the elderly, this is not the case. It is advised to be prepared with a will and powers of attorney, and revise and expand your plans after purchasing a home, getting married or divorced, having children, or starting a business.

Do I Need an Attorney for Estate Planning?

You’ll need an attorney for thorough estate planning to make your passing as painless as possible for your family. Having an attorney work out the details beforehand and potentially avoid the long, costly process of probate will allow your loved ones to focus on grieving and to receive their inheritance in a timely manner. While it is not a legal requirement to have an attorney, having one can ensure your plans are legally enforceable when it matters most.

Estate Planning Law Firm You Can Trust

At Orsbon & Fenninger, LLP, we don’t just know the law. We know North Carolina. Our estate planning attorneys are native Carolinians, have deep ties to the area, and know just how important it is to have legal advice you can trust, and that will treat you like family with the respect you deserve. Call us today to set up an appointment for your initial, confidential consultation with our skilled lawyers.