Estate Planning / Probate
For You and Your Loved Ones.
When you want to protect the assets for which you have worked hard and long, when you have minor children, when you are planning for retirement, when you have never completed an estate plan before, the first step is often the hardest.
Melchert Hubert Sjodin can be your guide. We listen first. Then we act. We have helped thousands of clients including the owners of family farms and family businesses create an estate plan that supports their financial needs, reduces tax burdens, leaves a legacy, and provides piece of mind.
Our attorneys have years of extensive experience in every aspect of estate planning – whether it's planning during lifetime, probate administration, estate administration, and trust administration upon death. Our clients rely on us. We have been working with up to three generations in some families for an improved financial outcome for all.
We can give you guidance on lifetime planning tools including setting up a Power of Attorney, Health Care Directive, Will, Living Trust, and possible gifts. Such advance planning ensures that your future goes the way you intend, that you minimize taxes and legal costs, and that your wishes are carried out in the event of your death.
In the case of incapacity of a loved one, we can help you through the court process of establishing a guardianship and/or conservatorship. We also assist in establishing and administering contingent trusts for minor children and special needs trusts or supplemental needs trusts for a person with a disability.
We strive to give clients and their families peace of mind during difficult times. We help our clients attain their goals during their lifetime and their pursuit of a good and rewarding life.
Questions we can answer include:
- What do I need to know about gift taxes, estate taxes, and tax planning?
- What are the best vehicles to carry my estate forward to the next generations?
- What options are available to avoid probate proceedings through court?
- What are the benefits of transferring real estate subject to a life estate reserved by you or by use of a Transfer on Death Deed?
- In addition to a Health Care Directive and Power of Attorney, what else should I be doing?
- How can I protect the wealth I have accumulated?
- How can I prepare for my long term care costs in case of disability?
- Would a revocable living trust or an irrevocable trust be good for me?
Planning for the future is essential and gives you the opportunity to provide for yourself and your loved ones for decades to come. Contact us with your questions or to find out more about our personalized estate planning services.
