Can a Lawyer Help Me Plan My Estate?

If you are interested in starting to plan your estate, you’ve come to the right place. The highly trained attorneys at Barros, McNamara, Malkiewicz & Taylor have the experience you need to thoroughly go through every major aspect of your estate and make the necessary arrangements for how your assets and property will be divided when you pass away.

There are a number of other areas that will need to be addressed regarding your Delaware estate, including trusts, your advance directive, healthcare proxy, and durable power of attorney, to name a few. Continue reading to learn more about how a lawyer can help you with planning your estate.

What You Need to Know about Probate

One of the goals in estate planning is trying to avoid having your estate being put through probate court. This is when the courts will get involved in executing your will and otherwise settling your estate. While planning your estate, you will be able to decide and assign an executor of your will.

This person will be responsible for distributing your assets as described in your will, paying off any debts and back taxes, and evaluating your remaining belongings. Unfortunately, if your assets are valued at more than $30,000, having your estate be put through probate will be unavoidable in Delaware. Probate court was designed to prevent fraudulent activity and ensure that your debts are repaid before your assets are distributed to your heirs.

Creating Your Will

Some would say that the creation of your will is the most important component of planning your estate. Having a will can enable your estate to go through probate much more quickly and allow you to designate your assets and property to specific family members, friends, or other individuals who are close to your heart.

If you choose to not have a will, upon your passing, the state will look for family members to divide your belongings among, but if you don’t have any, all of your assets, belongings, and property will then be managed by the state. For this reason, working with a knowledgeable estate lawyer in Delaware is in your best interests.

Reach Out to a Delaware Estate Lawyer

If you’re prepared to plan your estate but want to make sure that all of the details are explicitly addressed in accordance with your wishes, work with an experienced Delaware estate lawyer at Barros, McNamara, Malkiewicz & Taylor. Simply complete the brief contact form below or call our office directly at 302-734-8400 to schedule your initial estate review today.