A properly drafted will is one of the most important documents one can prepare during lifetime to specify the distribution of assets upon death and ensure loved ones are taken care of.
Without a will, your property and assets do not necessarily go to your spouse and, depending on the size of your estate, may pass to a combination of family members. Without a will your assets are divided in accordance with the intestacy rules under the Succession Law Reform Act, which also specifies how assets inherited by minor children are dealt with.
For a will to be valid, there are stringent legal procedures to be adhered to for which you need a qualified lawyer. Our estate planning lawyers will help draft wills, complex testamentary plans to address issues such as taxes and family conflict, as well as intricate agreements for family business planning and asset disposition.
Some people believe that they have “simple” estates, but once they speak to us they realize that there are many moving parts that require careful consideration. Circumstances that can give rise to complicated estate planning include, but are not limited to: separation or divorce, disputes among family members, inheritances, second marriages, guardianship of minors, disabled, immature or minor beneficiaries, family owned businesses, businesses owned with third parties, shareholder agreements and foreign resident or U.S. taxpayer beneficiaries. Our estate planning lawyers have years of experience dealing with all of these issues as well as many others.
Consult with one of our estate planning lawyers today to ensure that your family estate and business succession planning is prepared to ensure that the wealth you have taken a lifetime to build, will go to those whom you intend it to.