Frankfort Estate Planning

Find the right Wills & Trusts attorney in Frankfort, KY

In Frankfort, "estate planning" refers to all of the decisions affecting how a person's property is going to be disposed of after their death, as well as the procedure of implementing those decisions when the time comes.

Estate planning usually requires the advice of a legal and/or financial expert, because the issues involved can be confusing, and are regarded by most to be very important. A flawed estate plan might create conflict between your survivors, resulting in your intentions not being given effect.

In addition to deciding what to do with your assets after your death, your estate plan should also contain things that might become relevant during life. Power of attorney is a big one. Power of attorney is an arrangement in which you provide another person the ability to make decisions for you, if you become incapacitated. Also, effective estate planning can help reduce the effect of taxes and court fees on your final disposition to your chosen beneficiaries.

A reputable estate planner in Frankfort, 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 Frankfort 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: A living will contains instructions about your medical care, generally for the purpose of informing your family and doctors of your preferences if you suddenly become incapacitated. A living will is very critical if you have any strong preferences in this area. It should be written with the advice of a doctor, so you know the particular medical consequences of your decisions, and a lawyer, so it is virtually guaranteed to be legally binding.

Power of Attorney: Power of attorney, while important, is not to be used lightly. This is because it involves granting someone else the power to make legally-binding decisions on your behalf. Usually, your spouse will automatically have power of attorney if you become incapacitated. If you are not married, however, you need to make a document explicitly granting that authority to someone you trust (a life partner or close family member, for instance).

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 often read weeks after the testator dies, so in most cases, it will be too late by then.

Do I Need a Frankfort Estates Lawyer?

A poorly drafted or executed Frankfort estate plan can have major negative consequences. For instance, 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 guidance of an experienced estate planning attorney can be invaluable.

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

Life in Frankfort

Frankfort is a city in Franklin County, Kentucky. It is the capital of Kentucky, and with a population of under 30,000 people, it is one of the least populous state capitals in the United States. Frankfort was founded in the late 1700s, shortly after Kentucky became a state, with the specific purpose of serving as the state capital. During the Civil War, Frankfort was briefly occupied by confederate troops, Since the 1960s, Frankfort has seen considerable population and economic growth, mainly due to the construction of a few large (for a city this size) state and private office buildings, and other construction projects. Frankfort is also home to several distilleries who make Kentucky bourbon whiskey, the signature spirit of the region. Some of these older office towers are slated for demolition, with the intention of building a new, more modern, business center, with several smaller buildings providing for office space. There are plenty of lawyers in Frankfort, Kentucky who can handle whatever legal problems you might be facing. If you need any type of legal assistance, whether you're signing a mortgage, getting a divorce, starting a business, or anything else, a Frankfurt, Kentucky lawyer can help.

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