What Wills Do and Why You Need One
Wills and overall Estate Planning are essential to every adult. Rich or poor, Estate Planning and Wills
-
- ensure you determine the distribution of property; and
- protect you if you are very ill and cannot make decisions for yourself.
Not having a Will allows someone else to make crucial decisions for you. When no Will exists in Pennsylvania, the Probate Court divides property. A judge will decide how property and assets are divided. Also, the process can be time-consuming.
What Wills Lawyers Do and Why You Need One
You worked a lifetime to acquire your estate. Now, you want to determine how your estate is distributed to your loved ones. You need a strong Will because a strong Will discourages challenges. That’s why you need our proven, experienced Estate Planning / Wills Attorneys who will
- take as much time as is necessary to gain a thorough understanding of your estate, family situation, and what you want to happen;
- ask the right questions only an experienced Wills Attorney knows to ask to find things you might have overlooked;
- bring up legal options (i.e., Trusts) that might better protect your estate and the heirs to your estate than a Will alone; and
- draft a thorough and personalized Will as part of a comprehensive Estate Plan.
Your Estate Plan and Will are your guarantees that your wishes will happen because you won’t be there. It would be best if you did Estate Planning and Wills correctly. Do you want to trust this responsibility to do-it-yourself online Wills Internet site or an inexperienced discount Wills Lawyer? Of course not. Who would? Our experienced Wills Attorneys make sure your Estate Plan and Will are correct.
Wills and Estate Planning Basics
Estate Planning establishes what will happen to your estate and you if you cannot decide for yourself. Estate Planning can involve
- a Will;
- Powers of Attorney;
- Living Wills; and
- Trusts and other legal instruments to protect you and your family in a variety of situations.
Wills are legal documents designed to divide assets and property after you pass away. Wills can
- shorten the Probate process because a judge won’t have to decide how property is divided;
- reduce arguments over your estate by clearly stating your intentions; and
- ensure the estate is divided up and distributed to heirs as you wish.
Power of Attorney
Powers of Attorney designate someone to act on your behalf in certain circumstances.
General Power of Attorney
A General Durable Power of Attorney
- allows a person to designate someone to act on their behalf if they’re incapacitated;
- lasts as long as the principal is alive;
- if the principal is incapacitated, can make decisions and act in their best interests; and
- can make legal and financial decisions on behalf of the principal as long as the principal cannot make decisions for themselves.
Medical Power of Attorney
A Medical Power of Attorney
- refers specifically to medical decisions;
- allows a principal to name someone to make medical decisions (such as care or treatment decisions) in the event the principal is unable to do so; and
- can exist alone or in conjunction with a General Durable Power of Attorney for other decision-making.
What are Living Wills?
Known officially as a Directive to Physicians, a living Will states a person’s preferences for end-of-life care and care in extreme situations. In these circumstances, patients may be unable to speak for themselves because they are too injured. Tragedies often leave families with devastating choices, such as whether to keep a loved one on a ventilator or life support. A living will provides answers by clearly stating an individual’s preferences.
What Is a Declaration of Guardian for Self in the Event of Later Incapacity?
This document
- lists guardians, in order of priority, who can act as guardians for an estate or person;
- is needed if an individual has multiple people who could serve as guardians and you must prioritize them; and
- if an individual has no one to name as a guardian, you can help appoint someone.
What Is a Declaration of Guardian for Minor Children?
Anyone with children younger than 18 should have a Declaration of Guardian for Minor Children as part of their estate plan. This document lists someone who can act as a guardian if both parents pass away or are incapacitated. A Will can also name a guardian(s). If there is no Declaration of Guardian for Minor Children or Will appointing a guardian, the court may place minor children in foster care to determine a guardian.
Information to Gather and Things to Decide Before Discussing Your Will With Our Wills Attorneys
Your consultation regarding your Will is far more productive with some preparation on your part. Gather some basic information. Have an idea about how you want to distribute your estate. You’re not locked into these decisions when we meet with you. In fact, after you discuss them with us, you may change your mind. The goal here is to make your consultation as productive and efficient as possible and your will as accurate as possible. Preparation includes but is not limited to gathering information and decisions about
- personal information, including your
- name; and
- address
- marital status
- Have you ever been divorced? and
- If so, when and where?
- children
- names and addresses for each;
- how to distribute your assets between them;
- existing Trusts;
- whether to include grandchildren;
- deciding if you need a guardianship provision ;
- Special Needs for loved ones requiring continued care;
- property information
- you own, including addresses;
- you jointly own, including addresses and names and addresses of joint owners;
- property owned or jointly held outside of Pennsylvania or the United States;
- how you want property distributed to your heirs
- sell it and divide the proceeds; or
- give it away and to whom
- assets
- consider
- bank accounts;
- stocks and bonds;
- annuities,
- pensions;
- patents;
- trademarks;
- cars and other vehicles;
- collections;
- guns;
- household items; and
- items of sentimental value;
- how you want each asset distributed;
- consider
- businesses and how you want them handled;
- life insurance information (make sure the named beneficiary is up to date);
- safe deposit boxes
- their location;
- owners with access to it;
- burial and ceremonial wishes, including
- special wishes;
- prepaid funeral plans and with whom;
- special collections;
- trustee information;
- plan for Will Executors and trustees, including
- first person (name and address);
- second person as a backup (name and address); and
- lastly, a third person back-up-if you want (name and address).
You Won’t Find Better Wills Attorneys in Reading, PA or Berks County
You already know there are a lot of Berks County Wills and Estate Planning Lawyers around Reading, PA. How do you pick the right one?
Of course, experience in Estate Planning and Wills is one of the most important factors to consider. Our Wills Attorneys have 40+ years of experience helping clients in Berks County around Reading.
The next consideration might not be quite as obvious. You want a Wills Attorney who
- genuinely understands the importance of what you’re trying to accomplish; and
- the emotional discomfort the subject of Wills and Estate Planning often creates.
We
- have a reputation for being the most people and family-oriented law firm and Wills Attorneys in Reading and Berks County;
- understand the importance of seeing your estates distributed according to your wishes; and
- most importantly, create your Will with the same dedication to detail as we would our own.
Protect your family’s future. No one knows what the future might bring. But we strive to bring you peace of mind about tomorrow.
Start your Estate Planning today. Contact Us Online or call us at 610-670-9000 today for your personalized consultation.
Miller Law Group’s Berks County Law Offices are in West Lawn, PA, near Reading.
We offer
- Convenient, Easy, and Safe Free Parking;
- Accessible Access Ramp; and
- Spacious, Well-Lit Offices