Arkansas Estate Planning Law Firm in Springdale
Northwest Arkansas Estate Planning Attorney
Show Your Family How Much You Care
Feel secure, maintain control, and have peace of mind by Protecting you, your loved ones, and assets the best way possible
Without a Plan You and Your Family Lose
- You lose control of your property and decisions to the State and a Judge
- You and your family lose their privacy
- Your family loses control. They can’t avoid Probate. Probate is a financial and emotional hardship your family doesn’t deserve
- You lose control of how your property is distributed. The State and a Judge make the decisions
- If you are incapacitated, you lose control of who makes decisions
- You lose control over your healthcare decisions
It doesn’t have to be that way
Stay in Control
Feel safe and secure about your assets and legacy. Be assured your loved ones will be taken care of and your wishes will be honored if you are incapacitated and after you’re gone.
Protect Your Home
Don’t give it all to a nursing home. Don’t lose a big chunk to probate.
Rest Easy & Stop Worrying
Your plan will give you peace of mind and confidence that you’ve done all you can to protect you, your family, and your money the best way possible. Stay in control.
We Understand…Estate Planning Seems Hard and Intimidating so We’re Here to Help
Estate planning can be intimidating and seem difficult. Not only are you forced to think about what happens when you die, but you also have to make potentially family and life altering decisions.
The good news is — it doesn’t have to be this way!
With a little help, you can easily be sure that your assets go to whom you want, when you want, and in the way that you want. I offer a free 15-minute call just to get to know each other and discover if … and how … I can help you. Book a call now.
Your Guide to Success
I know first hand how hard it is to lose somebody and the headaches that follow. I know the importance of having a plan in place.
My father passed away of a sudden heart attack in 2010. Because of this, mom and I had to take the family ranch through probate – for the third time since 1975. This was an extremely long and stressful process and it is the last thing that anyone wants to go through while they are mourning.
I decided then and there a better way must exist. And it does. That better way is an effective estate plan.
I’ve helped 1000’s of families avoid probate and other legal messes.
The Best Wills and Trusts Attorney
The Best Elder Law
Guiding You Step-by-Step: Success System
Estate Planning – The Superior and Only Effective Way
Estate planning is the superior and the only effective way to protect what you have from the nursing home, avoid probate, and prepare for incapacity for your peace of mind and quality of life
Estate planning is about preparing for the management of your affairs and distribution of your assets during and after your lifetime. A great estate plan will minimize (or eliminate) taxes and other major expenses like probate and losing it all to a nursing home. A plan also prepares for any chance of incapacity in the future. Plans allow your family to act instead of react when time matters most.
A great plan answers these questions, and more:
- How can I save my house from the expenses of nursing home care and ravages of probate?
- How can I make it easier on my family during already hard times by avoiding probate and other legal messes?
- Who will take care of and raise my children if I can’t?
- How do I assure who gets what, when, how, and how much and manage it wisely?
- Who will manage my assets and affairs when I’m incapacitated?
Nobody likes to imagine what might happen to their loved ones after they’re gone. Who will inherit your assets? How can you spare your family the hassle of dealing with probate? If you have special needs children, who will take care of them when you pass away?
If you’re struggling to find answers to questions about estate plans, our experienced estate planning attorneys at DeWitt Law Firm are here for you.
The Dangers Of Not Having A Will
You may think that if you don’t have a lot of money in bank accounts, real estate, or other assets, you don’t need a will. Or maybe you’re still young and assume you’ve got plenty of time to write a will. Unfortunately, these are common misconceptions that could come back to hurt your loved ones after you’ve passed away.
If you die without making beneficiary designations through a will, your estate could get tied up in lengthy and complicated probate proceedings – and that’s something you want to avoid at all costs.
In probate, the court will use your assets to pay off debts. Anything left over gets distributed to your heirs, including children, parents, and surviving spouses. But if you haven’t designated beneficiaries, you’ll have no say over who gets what.
The court will also appoint an executor to oversee the disbursement of your estate. The executor’s job includes tracking down your heirs and distributing your assets, which is a time-consuming and stressful task. The whole process can take months or longer, during which your loved ones can’t access money they might desperately need.
When your family is dealing with the grief of your passing, they shouldn’t have to handle the hassle of probate court, too. That’s why everyone needs a will – no matter their age or financial status.
Why You Need To Set Up A Trust Today
With trusts, you’re in greater control of who gets your assets and when. Typically, heirs receive assets through a trust much more quickly than they would via probate court. You can set up a trust to distribute your assets just days or weeks following your death.
When it comes to setting up a trust, you have two main options. One is a revocable trust, which you can change as long as you’re still living and able to make sound financial decisions. An irrevocable trust, on the other hand, is much stricter. You can’t change this type of trust without a court order or the approval of all beneficiaries. An estate planning attorney will help you choose a trust if you’re unsure which is best for you.
People with large estates can also use trusts as a tax-efficient method of wealth transfer. In some cases, your heirs won’t have to pay taxes on assets you’ve left them in a trust. That’s especially appealing in a rough economy when every penny counts. Calculating trust taxes is a complicated topic, though, which is why you need a knowledgeable estate planning attorney to help you out.
Power of Attorney: A Trusted Ally in Your Corner
What happens if you become ill or incapacitated and can no longer make decisions for yourself? If you’ve set up power of attorney, you can have a loved one make decisions on your behalf. Powers of attorney enable your representative to manage your money and property when you’re sick, disabled, or otherwise unable to do so.
You can also appoint a medical power of attorney to make health-related decisions for you near the end of life. Even if you think your loved ones know your wishes, this isn’t always true. Advance care planning ensures that your family knows exactly what to do, making things a little easier for them during what is likely a very difficult time.
Is power of attorney the same thing as guardianship? They are similar, but you can think of guardianship as stricter and more restrictive overall. With power of attorney, you’re still allowed to make certain choices for yourself. If you’re under someone’s guardianship, however, that person makes all decisions on your behalf.
Books and Reports
How to Get Started With Your Estate Plan
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Areas Served
DeWitt Law Firm serves people with legal needs throughout Northwest Arkansas. We are ready to help you. And we serve multiple communites around Springdale, Arkasnas.
Let DeWitt Law Firm put their experience and diligent legal representation to work for you. Contact us today to learn how DeWitt Law Firm can help you.
