Janesville Estate Planning

Find the right Wills & Trusts attorney in Janesville, WI

If you are making choices in Janesville 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.

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. Additionally, effective estate planning can minimize the impact that estate taxes and court fees will have on your final disposition to your loved ones.

The last thing a person wants to think about is the possibility that, after their death, their survivors are fighting over some part of their estate plan that's ambiguous or otherwise contentious. If you want to keep this, or at least make it far less possible, you should have the help of a Janesville attorney every step of the way.

Common Features of Janesville Estates

Will: This is the centerpiece of most estate plans. A will is a document written by a person (the "testator"), normally 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 really 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: 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. Thus, 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 Janesville Estates Lawyer?

A seasoned estates lawyer in Janesville can make the estate planning process much easier. He or she can maximize the chances of your wishes being given effect. Additionally, 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 Janesville

With a population of 61,310 Janesville, Wisconsin has it all. Janesville is located in South Central Wisconsin and was founded in 1835. Since its founding, the charming city has done nothing but grow and prosper. Janesville was named after an early settler to the town -- Henry James.

Janesville was the site of the first Wisconsin State Fair in 1851, an event that over 10,000 people attended. It is no wonder then that so many people enjoy visiting and living in Janesville. Janesville is also home to lots of historical homes, in fact 20% of the nationally registered historic homes in Wisconsin are in Janesville. Aptly named "City of Parks," Janesville has an extensive park system that includes nature trails, boat lakes, and 53 parks in total.

Janesville is also home to some interesting legal history. Janesville lawyers are some of the best in the business and Janesville is also home to Wisconsin's first female lawyer --Lavinia Goddell in 1874. In addition to lawyers, there are lots of other great business and industry which make the city a great place to start a career.

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