Mount Vernon Estate Planning

Find the right Wills & Trusts attorney in Mount Vernon, NY

"Estate planning" in Mount Vernon refers to the decisions a person makes regarding what is to be done with their assets after their death, and the process of implementing those wishes.

If you want to start the process of planning your estate, you've made a good choice, especially if you care about what happens to your survivors after you're gone. You should be careful, however, and make sure you have the help of a legal and financial expert every step of the way. This will likely prove very helpful in the long run, avoiding a lot of problems in the future.

In addition to post-death decisions, estate planning also concerns matters that might affect you during your life, such as granting power of attorney to a family member or trusted friend in case you become unable to make your own decisions regarding your finances or medical care. Furthermore, effective estate planning can minimize the impact that estate taxes and court fees will have on your final disposition to your loved ones.

A competent estate planner in Mount Vernon can make the process of planning your estate go much more smoothly, and maximize the chances of your wishes actually being carried out with legal force.

Common Features of Mount Vernon Estates

Will: This is a legal document which transfers ownership of the testator's (the person making the will) property to named beneficiaries after the testator's death. The beneficiaries can be just about anyone the testator chooses, but smaller estates, usually only include family members, and maybe very close friends. If you want, you can place conditions on gifts (say, leaving a certain amount of money to your son, but only if he graduates college before he turns 25 - this is just an example). However, a will can't actually compel anyone to do anything, and some conditional gifts won't be enforced, typically because they involve an illegal act, or require a person to marry or refrain from marrying a specific person.

Living Will: Living wills are also very important for most people. Basically, a living will tells everyone concerned (your next of kin, and your doctor) what type of medical care you want if you become incapacitated. It typically includes the circumstances under which a person wishes to be kept on life support, when they want to be taken off of life support, and, sometimes, instructions on when medical staff should and should not attempt resuscitation.

Power of Attorney: Power of attorney is the authority to make binding decisions for another person, when that person becomes unable to make or express their own decisions. You can grant power of attorney to anyone you want, but, for obvious reasons, you should only grant it to somebody you trust, and discuss your exact wishes with them, in case they actually have to make a decision for you.

Funeral Arrangements: You should make it very clear to the people handling your funeral what type of funeral you want, and what you want done with your body. You should not put these instructions in your will, because wills are often not read until days or weeks after the testator dies, by which point it may be too late to give their wishes on this subject effect.

Do I Need a Mount Vernon Estates Lawyer?

A poorly drafted or executed Mount Vernon estate plan can have major negative consequences. For example, it might be confusing to the people who are most directly affected by it. This confusion can often lead to costly litigation. For that reason, the assistance of an experienced estate planning attorney can be invaluable.

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

Life in Mount Vernon

Mount Vernon, New York is a city in Westchester County, and borders The Bronx, a borough of New York City. It has a population of approximately 69,000 people, making it the 8th most populous city in New York state.

For a city of its size, Mount Vernon, New York is extremely diverse, with dozens of different ethnic groups comprising a significant percentage of the population. Owing to this, the city's motto used to be "A City That Believes," an allusion to the dozens of places of worship in the city, covering about 25 different denominations.

Of particular note is the city's Brazilian Community. It comprises more than 10% of the city's population, and is heavily concentrated in a large neighborhood which is characterized by many businesses and restaurants that cater to the community. The Brazilian community's presence in Mount Vernon can actually be felt back in their hometowns, in Brazil. Because most immigrants come to American to make more money, which they can send back to their families. This money has significantly increased the standard of living in several towns in Brazil.

The city's legal community of Mount Vernon reflects the city's diversity. Mount Vernon, New York lawyers can handle just about any case that might walk into their office. If you have a legal problem, you shouldn't hesitate to contact a Mount Vernon, New York lawyer today.

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