Estate Planning

What is an estate?

Your estate consists of all your property, including your home and other real estate (but how much of it is yours may depend on how title is held and who holds it), tangible personal property such as cars and furniture, and intangible property such as insurance, bank accounts, stocks and bonds, and pension and Social Security benefits. 

 

Some useful instruments for estate planning include a will, a trust, a durable power of attorney, and a medical directive.



Wills: establish rules for distributing your property after your death.

 

Codicil: an amendment to an existing will. Codicils are useful when you do not want to restate your entire estate plan, but merely need to make one or two small changes to reflect recent events in your life.                  

 

Do you need to update your will? Click here for a list of important questions to ask yourself.          



Trusts: can manage a group of assets during your life and after death, and also avoid the probate process.

 

Special Needs Trusts: established to help take care of a disabled loved one while ensuring that they remain eligible for government benefits. (Click here to learn more)



Durable Power of Attorney: is a tool used for ensuring someone you trust has the ability to carry out your wishes, even if you are no longer able to do so.



Medical Directive: may include several documents including a health care power of attorney, a living will, and a health care proxy. 



Contact the office today if you live in or around the Florence, South Carolina or Pee Dee area and need assistance planning your estate.