Estate & Gift Planning
Experienced Estate Planning Attorneys in Edwardsville, Illinois
Estate planning is more than just preparing a will. It involves considering what you want to happen upon your disability or death, and then taking the appropriate steps to see that your wishes will be carried out in a clear and tax-efficient way.
The attorneys at Coffey & McCracken Law Firm have the competence and focus you need to be assured that your plan to care for yourself and others is well-considered and readily implemented when the need arises.
We have been helping individuals and families develop plans to effectively meet their and their families' goals and objectives. Our decades of experience helps avoid the mistakes that are most often made by less experienced attorneys who advertise as estate planning, will, trust or probate lawyers.
Our Approach
For some, "estate planning" involves preparing a will and powers of attorney. For others, it involves planning for a special needs child or grandchild, preserving assets for future generations, handling blended family situations, or passing on a business during life or at death.
Our approach is to first meet with you to learn about you and your family, and to understand your goals and objectives, your family relationships, and the types and extent of your assets.
With this knowledge in mind, we discuss with you the best ways to reach your goals. Once we have a tentative plan in mind, we then discuss with you how to minimize your estate and gift taxes in a way that is consistent with your plan. We counsel you about common pitfalls, such as improper use of joint tenancy arrangements or beneficiary designations that can cause the best of your intentions to fail.
Depending on your situation, the documentation of your estate plan may include:
- Will
- Property Powers of Attorney
- Healthcare Powers of Attorney
- Trusts
- Prenuptial or Premarital Agreements
- Family Limited Liability Company
- Multi-Generational Dynasty Trusts
- Business Succession Plans
This documentation will provide the directions, terms and conditions necessary to implement your plan. These may include provisions for children's or grandchildren's trusts, asset protection, rights of first refusal, and retained income relating to charitable gifts.
Unlike some other attorneys, our services do not end when your plan is signed. We continue to work with you to assure that your assets are properly titled and that beneficiary designations are properly made to assure that your plan will work as intended.
Upon the conclusion of our estate planning services, you can be assured that you have received an understandable, readily implemented and quality product for a value price that will work as you intend, in light of your current wishes and circumstances under existing law.
Of course, you will need to review your planning whenever you have a significant change in wealth or family circumstances. However, even without these changes, you should regularly review your estate plan with an attorney to assure that law changes do not adversely affect it.
Contact
To contact our firm, please call our Edwardsville office or simply e-mail the firm.
