Estate Planning In Buffalo, New York

Find the right Estate Planning attorney in Buffalo, NY

When planning for the final disposition of your estate in Buffalo, New York, there are a few things you'll want to consider: who do you want to give your assets to, and under what conditions? Do you have any preference for how your funeral should be handled? Do you have any certain wishes concerning end-of-life care? These questions, and more, should all be taken into account.

Typically, the first thing a person thinks about when they think about estate planning is a will. A will dictates what happens to a person's property after they die. In general, you can leave your property to whomever you want, and attach almost any condition to such gifts. In the vast majority of estate plans, a will is the central component. It is rarely the only one, however.

A solid estate plan will also include instructions to your doctors about your preferences for end of life care, in case you become unable to express them. This is recognized as a "living will." It should also include instructions about funeral arrangements and organ donation.

Most importantly, an estate plan should give instructions on the care of your minor children. It should lay out who is to take custody of them, and, if possible, leave them a large sum of money to assist with this care. Of course, you should discuss this matter with the people who you want to take custody of your children, to make sure they can really take on such responsibility.

What Type of Estate Plan Do I Need in Buffalo, New York?

Obviously, the answer to this depends on many factors, as well as your goals and preferences. However, most people, when deciding what type of estate plan they need, consider their health, age, and wealth.

If you are young and unmarried, estate planning probably doesn't need to be on your radar, unless you are very ill, independently wealthy, or perhaps if you work in a very dangerous job, such as the military.

If you are unmarried, but have a life partner in Buffalo, New York, estate planning is crucial, if you wish for your life partner to be treated as if he or she were your spouse (to the extent possible). In such a situation, the estate plan should make arrangements to give your life partner power of attorney in case you become incapacitated. Your will should also clearly include your partner (if you wish for them to inherit any of your assets).

Other groups for whom estate planning is very crucial in Buffalo, New York are people who are elderly and/or have a lot of assets. This may be the point in one's life where estate planning is most crucial. While it's true that the process of making an estate plan requires a person to deal directly with the reality of their own mortality, it is extremely important if you value the security that comes with the knowledge that your family will be provided for.

Do I Need a Buffalo, New York Estate Planning Attorney?

Because estate planning can be a convoluted process, the expertise of a good lawyer in Buffalo, New York who specializes in wills, trusts, and estates can make the process a great deal easier.

Talk to a Wills, Trusts & Estates Law Attorney now!

Life in Buffalo

Buffalo has lots of nicknames like "the city of good neighbors," "the nickel city," and "the queen city" but the slogan that's best is "city of light." Buffalo, as the second most populous municipality in the State of New York, is just that. Buffalo is a waterfront city standing at the edge of where the Buffalo River, Niagara River, and Lake Eerie intercept. That means there are many tourists who come to Buffalo to see the Niagara Falls that are just 15 minutes away from downtown. Downtown Buffalo is a center of banking with major operations for First Niagara Bank, MT Bank, HSBC Bank USA, Bank of America, and KeyBank. Rich Products is one of the world's largest family owned food manufacturers and has their corporate headquarters in Buffalo.

Buffalo's economy is largely reliant on health care and education that have had continuous success in the face of the recession. The Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus and the University of Buffalo are largely to credit. Both institutions vastly expanded in the past few years offering more jobs and opportunities to Buffalo residents. Forbes Magazine rated Buffalo as the 10th best place to live in the United States in 2010. The Buffalo City Hall is a world renown building for its design by Art Deco. There are also a number of parks that are well kept in Buffalo. None compare to the Buffalo and Eerie County Botanical Gardens drawing visitors from far and wide.

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