Waukesha Estate Planning

Find the right Wills & Trusts attorney in Waukesha, WI

If you are making arrangements in Waukesha about what to do with everything you own after your death, and your other affairs that should be wrapped up at that time, you are in the process of "estate planning."

You will frequently need to seek the help of a professional with legal and/or financial expertise when in the process of estate planning. Simple mistakes in an estate plan can cause egregious problems, including legal and personal conflicts between your survivors.

While planning your estate, there are a few prevalent issues that most people should consider. One big one is the decision relating to power of attorney, which is an arrangement where you give one person the power to make legally-binding decisions on your behalf. You can set up an agreement telling your representative precisely what power they have, what you want them to do, and when the power will vest (typically, if and when you become unable to make your own decisions).

A reliable estate planner in Waukesha, can make this process much easier, minimizing the chances that your estate plan will end up in court, saving your survivors a huge amount of time and money.

Common Features of Waukesha Estates

Will: This is the centerpiece of most estate plans. A will is a document written by a person (the "testator"), typically with the help of a lawyer, which says what is to be done with their property after they die. Most provisions in a will are legally binding, to the extent that ownership of the property legally passes to the named beneficiary. Nonetheless, a will cannot compel a person to do anything against their wishes (though it can certainly state your preferences on the matter, phrasing them as requests).

Living Will: This is a document which articulates your wishes regarding your medical care, to give instructions to your family and doctors in the event that you become incapacitated. While directly consulting it will hopefully never be necessary, one never knows - unexpected illnesses and injuries can happen to anyone, at any time. While making a living will might require a person to acknowledge the existence of some unpleasant possibilities, it can end up saving their loved ones a great deal of grief and uncertainty.

Power of Attorney: Power of attorney is the right 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: If you have any strong preferences concerning the disposition of your physical remains, you should make them known to your family early, and should not include funeral instructions in your will. Wills are frequently read weeks after the testator dies, so in most cases, it will be too late by then.

Do I Need a Waukesha Estates Lawyer?

A reliable estates lawyer in Waukesha can make the estate planning process much easier. He or she can maximize the chances of your wishes being given effect. Moreover, a good and clear estate plan is far less likely to result in litigation in the future, since disputes of this nature are almost always the result of ambiguity.

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

Life in Waukesha

With a population of just under 65,000, Waukesha is a very popular Wisconsin city to live and work in. In fact, it was ranked 36th on the Top 100 places to live, and one of the 100 best communities for young people to live in as well. The city is located just eighteen miles from Milwaukee. With all that recognition, it is no wonder that there are so many great lawyers in Waukesha. Whether at the beginning or the end of their legal career, there is a Waukesha lawyer skilled in whatever legal issue you may be dealing with. In addition to lawyers and a great professional community, Waukesha is also home to many great colleges and universities, including: Carroll University, University of Wisconsin-Waukesha, and the New Tribes Bible Institute.

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