Greenfield Estate Planning

Find the right Wills & Trusts attorney in Greenfield, WI

If you are making arrangements in Greenfield 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 usually 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 significant problems, including legal and personal conflicts between your survivors.

In addition to post-death decisions, estate planning also concerns issues 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. Moreover, effective estate planning can minimize the impact that estate taxes and court fees will have on your final disposition to your loved ones.

If you want to maximize the odds that your wishes will be followed after your death, you should do everything you can to make them legally binding. While this is not always possible, a Greenfield attorney will be able to make sure that, where it is permitted, it is done.

Common Features of Greenfield 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, normally because they involve an illegal act, or require a person to marry or refrain from marrying a particular person.

Living Will: Living wills are also very critical for most people. Essentially, 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 normally 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 permission 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: What do you want done with your body after you die? Do you want to be cremated? How about buried? Or maybe you want to be cremated, and have your remains shot into space? Whatever your preference, you won't exactly be able to tell anyone when the time comes. Consequently, you should make your desires on this matter known well in advance. You also shouldn't make your will the only place where these instructions are included, since it might not be read for weeks after your death, when it will likely be too late.

Do I Need a Greenfield Estates Lawyer?

A poorly drafted or executed Greenfield 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 frequently lead to costly litigation. For that reason, the guidance of an efficient estate planning attorney can be invaluable.

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

Life in Greenfield

Greenfield, Wisconsin is a city located in Milwaukee County. Its current population is estimated to be about 35,000 people.

Greenfield was formed as a distinct town, out of unincorporated territory in Milwaukee County, in 1957. It was the final municipality in Milwaukee County to incorporate. Greenfield is doing fairly well, economically, with less than 5% of the population living below the poverty line, and a median family income of about ,000, about the same as the state average, which is good compared to many other parts of the region which have been particularly hard-hit by the recession of the early 2010s.

Greenfield, like much of Wisconsin outside the cities, is known for its beautiful natural scenery, boasting rolling green hills, lakes, and rivers. Because of this, Greenfield is home to a large number of parks and recreational areas, featuring hiking, boating, and fishing, among other outdoor activities which are popular among residents and visitors alike.

If you live in Greenfield, Wisconsin, or other parts of Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, you're in luck. There are many Greenfield, Wisconsin lawyers who can help you with just about any legal problem you might have. If you think you need legal assistance, you should call a Greenfield, Wisconsin lawyer as soon as possible.

Clients Rate LegalMatch Attorneys
(click to read reviews)

Regel B.
Regel B.

Wills, Trusts and Estates

Caldwell, LA

Brad M.
Brad M.

Wills, Trusts and Estates

Sussex, NJ

David L.
David L.

Wills, Trusts and Estates

Ashland, OH