Estate Planning & Probate

	"The legal staff simplified the process of dealing with complex and difficult estate planning issues. I was pleasantly surprised. It wasn't as difficult as I thought it would be. Now I feel a sense of accomplishment knowing that our families won't have to worry about what our wishes were. Now we have peace of mind." -- Nancy Lapointe

We believe that the primary goal of estate planning is to provide peace of mind to our clients. The first step is to fill out a simple questionnaire that addresses key issues. After providing us with the basic information in the questionnaire, a meeting with Attorney Barnes will be scheduled. At this meeting, we will talk about your situation and create a comprehensive estate plan for you.

When the asset review reveals that an estate is taxable, tax planning documents such as a trust or lifetime plan of giving may be indicated. Estate tax laws are constantly changing: the estate tax will be gradually phased out by 2010, but, barring a Congressional vote to extend the repeal, reinstated in 2011. Any estate plan for a taxable estate should respond to these changes, as well as to any significant increase (or decrease) in your assets. Accordingly, we recommend a regular review of your estate planning documents every three to five years.