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ESTATE PLANNING

We offer an extensive array of estate planning services, including Will drafting, preparation of General Durable Financial Powers of Attorney and Medical Powers of Attorney with Advanced Directive and HIPAA provisions, sophisticated family planning and trust preparation.

The estate planning process involves gathering information about you, your family and your assets, then meeting to discuss your estate planning goals. We work with you to come up with an individualized estate plan. We do not use “forms”, but tailor each document to your needs. Estate planning is not “one size fits all.” We work to make sure you understand how your assets are passing, whether that is through the Will (probate), or outside of the Will (non-probate) by operation of law due to joint titling of the asset, a designated beneficiary being named, or via trust. We try to fit the pieces of the puzzle together and explain it in plain language. And, once everything is signed, we make sure to follow up and dot every “i” and cross every “t”.

We work to ensure that you pass assets to your intended beneficiaries in ways to reduce costs. This includes planning to reduce and/or eliminate federal estate taxes and Pennsylvania Inheritance Taxes. However, your estate plan is personal to you, and should take into consideration all of your individual goals, which do not always prioritize saving taxes for the next generation. With that in mind, we focus on ease of administration, protecting you and your family and creating an effective estate plan that carries out your desires at death.

We will review your financial situation, discuss your family dynamics, listen to your goals and concerns, explain the issues relevant to your situation, and discuss your options with you to formulate a plan. Then we will walk you through all of the actions needed to execute your plan. This may include assisting you with obtaining the proper life insurance, re-titling assets, changing beneficiary designations, setting up Limited Liability Companies or Family Limited Partnerships, and drafting Wills, Trusts, General Durable Financial Powers of Attorney, Medical Powers of Attorney and any other estate planning documents necessary to achieve your objectives. The customized documents prepared for your family will depend on your situation and may include Wills, Revocable Trusts, Irrevocable Trusts, General Durable Financial Powers of Attorney, Medical Powers of Attorney, Irrevocable Life Insurance Trusts, Charitable Remainder Annuity Trusts, Charitable Lead Trusts, Grantor Retained Annuity Trusts, Buy-Sell Agreements, Limited Liability Companies, Family Limited Partnerships and more.