Estate Planning

Estate planning is about having peace of mind with the inevitabilities of life. While Missouri provides an estate plan for everyone through the Missouri Probate Code, that plan is often quite different than what many folks would envision. Having an attorney draft your estate plan gives you peace of mind by letting you know that your wishes will be respected.

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In Missouri, estate planning can be done through a will or a trust. These documents determine what happens with your assets when you pass. While both documents control a person’s assets at the time of their death, a trust allows people to retain greater control of their assets after passing. Our attorneys can help you decide whether a will or trust is right for you.

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In addition to the will or trust document an estate plan also includes Powers of Attorney, so your family can make decisions if you become incapacitated. Many people also include instructions for their agent in the event life support, such as a breathing tube, is required. Powers of Attorney are especially important for people in long term relationships, but are not married, because hospitals will not recognize those relationships for medical decisions.

 

Updating your estate plan is also important. As your life circumstances change, it can be helpful to have an attorney review your estate plan to ensure that it still acts as you envision. This is especially important for new families where an attorney can add guardianship language to an existing will or trust. This language allows you to control who cares for your children in the event you cannot.

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Book a free consultation with our estate planning attorney today to get started!