Estate Planning
Legal Services / Estate Planning
Estate Planning Lawyer-Portland, MI.
Planning For Your Future And Your Legacy
Planning for your future is a serious matter. Not only do you want to secure the legacy you leave your loved ones, but you also need to consider your own care and well-being as you get older. At Madarang Hoort & Associates, our lawyers will carefully review your particular needs and circumstances so we can provide you with an estate plan that meets your goals.
What Is Included In An Estate Plan?
An estate plan consists of legal documents that include individual components that work together to protect your health, assets, and beneficiaries. Those components include:
- Will: This is the document most people are familiar with that describes your personal and financial decisions, such as how you would like your assets divided after your death.
- Living trust: You may put your assets into a trust to avoid the probate process and control how the assets are used after your incapacity or death.
- Medical power of attorney: You can name an “agent” to make health care decisions for you if you are unable to communicate your wishes or become incompetent.
- Durable Power of Attorney: As you age, you may need assistance handling your finances. This document allows you to name someone you trust to help you if necessary.
- Advanced medical directive: Also referred to as a living will, this power of attorney document states your wishes regarding the extreme care you may need if you are unable to communicate.
- Beneficiary designations: Many financial accounts and insurance policies allow you to name your beneficiaries for each of those accounts directly rather than having to go through the probate process.
- Review of real estate: You should always have an attorney review the title to any real estate you own to make sure it will pass to your heirs the way you intend after you die, whether through probate, a trust, a transfer on death deed, or joint tenancy.
Our goal with estate administration is to maximize estate assets while minimizing costs. We know that your loved ones intended for you to be the beneficiary—not the attorney. We do not believe it is ethical or appropriate to charge a minimum fee or a percentage of the estate.
We only charge for our actual time and the expenses necessary to transfer assets, as your loved ones intended.
Estate Planning Lawyers You Can Depend On
The only way to ensure your estate wishes are honored is to have a written, clear and enforceable estate plan. Whether you need a will, trust, or only powers of attorney for health care or financial needs, we are here to help and provide you with peace of mind.
Communities Served
- Lansing
- Ionia
- Barry
- Montcalm
- Eaton
- Kent
- Dewitt
- Ingham
- Grand Rapids
- Portland
- Clinton
