The Benefits Of Hiring An Estate Planning Lawyer

Planning for the future and all the unexpected things it may bring is one of the most responsible things you can do. This is true regardless of whether you have assets of significant value or have a more modest estate and simply want to ensure your loved ones are taken care of. Yet, unfortunately, so many put off estate planning until it’s too late.

Hiring an estate planning lawyer can provide you with invaluable peace of mind and go far in facilitating financial security. Handling everything on your own can be overwhelming and incredibly risky, all at the same time. That’s why the Law Offices of Joanne Schlenk McAvey, PLLC. in Deer Park, NY, is dedicated to helping you through the entire estate planning process, no matter your background. We’ve prepared this article to that end, too. In it, we hope to overview the immense value of hiring an estate planning lawyer.

Key Benefits Of Hiring An Estate Planning

Many wrongly think that estate planning is only for the wealthy. Nothing could be further from the truth. Everyone, regardless of their financial status, can benefit from having a robust and legally sound estate plan. Estate planning ensures that your wishes can be carried out just as you want them to be, regardless of whether you have a home, investments, or simply want to outline your healthcare preferences.

Consider these clear benefits you’ll enjoy if you partner with an estate planning lawyer:

Knowledge Of State And Federal Law

Estate planning laws vary by state, but even within New York alone, these laws are constantly changing. Even beyond the initial time it would take to get up to speed on New York estate planning law, you’d constantly have to keep up with any and all changes that are made to ensure your plan remains legally compliant.

Do-it-yourself tools may seem helpful, especially considering how affordable they are, but you don’t know what you don’t know. You’re likely not to catch mistakes you may make when using them, and the tool might not either! This can lead to issues that are even more demanding of your time and finances to resolve. Getting things started with a trusted estate planning lawyer dramatically reduces, if not entirely eliminates, these risks.

Tailored Solutions

Everyone is different. By extension, their estate planning needs are equally different, too. A skilled attorney can assess your situation, family dynamics, and long-term goals to create a customized estate plan just for you. Whether you need a simple will, complex trust, or advanced tax planning strategy, an estate planning lawyer can provide you with a solution that fits your unique circumstances.

Avoiding Delays And Costs

If your estate is subject to probate, an infamously long and costly process, your beneficiaries will likely experience an unnecessary delay in receiving their inheritance. This is the last thing you should want for them during what is one of the most difficult times of their lives.

Proper planning is key to abiding these sorts of unnecessary delays and costs. An estate planning lawyer can help you tap into tools that can ensure a seamless transfer of your assets without the court becoming excessively involved in the meantime.

Safeguarding Your Health

Estate planning encompasses far more than simply regulating the distribution of assets. With it, you can preemptively manage unexpected health episodes and issues. Documents like a durable power of attorney or a healthcare proxy allow you to appoint someone you trust to step in and make decisions on your behalf should you ever be in the position of not being able to yourself. An attorney will ensure these documents are legally compliant, properly executed, and enforceable when needed.

Preventing Family Disputes

Disagreements over inheritances, unfortunately, aren’t entirely uncommon. While you may not be able to guarantee they never happen among your beneficiaries, you can do some things to mitigate the risk of them arising. An estate planning attorney will develop a clear and legally sound plan that will reduce any possible ambiguity. With your wishes clearly known to all, they’ll be much easier to follow. That being the case, the prolonged legal battles and strained relationships that these disputes agitate will be far less likely than they might be otherwise.

Hiring an estate planning lawyer is one of the most important steps you can take to protect your assets, minimize legal complications, and ensure your wishes are honored. Whether you need assistance drafting a will, setting up a trust, or planning for future healthcare decisions, an experienced estate planning attorney from the Law Offices of Joanne Schlenk McAvey, PLLC. can guide you through the entire process.

Don’t keep searching estate planning lawyers near me online. Reach out to us today for answers to your questions and a partner you can trust your estate plan with.