Estate Planning

You have a Will so you feel prepared for the unexpected. However, because family circumstances change over time, it is wise to review your estate planning documents if and when any of the following events occur:

• You have had children since your Will was prepared;

• Your choice of guardian for your minor child/children has changed;

• You have married or divorced, or your children have married or divorced;

• Your income and/or assets have changed dramatically;

• You have moved from one state to another, or you now own property in a state other than your state of residence;

• You or your spouse have developed health problems;

• You or your spouse now own a business;

• You or your spouse now feel inclined to leave part of your assets to your church or a charity and

• One or more of your children now has special needs or considerations that will need to be addressed if you and/or your spouse are no longer living;

The protection of your assets requires careful estate planning. Since the firm’s founding, estate planning has been an important part of the legal services we offer our individual and business clients.

Our attorneys assist clients in defining their individual estate planning goals and use their knowledge of estate and gift tax law to avoid needless taxation and legal costs for their clients’ estates. The transfer of ownership of assets while still living, preparation of pre-nuptial agreements and/or individualized trusts, and the formation of limited liability family partnerships are a few of the means by which we assist our clients in the preservation of their wealth.

Of equal importance in the estate planning process are the preparation of powers of attorney (effective immediately or at incapacity) and the Advance Directive for Healthcare, both of which are provided in our estate planning package.

In accordance with Alabama State Bar requirements, no representation is made that the quality of the legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers.