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Arkansas Estate Planning Law Firm in Springdale

Northwest Arkansas Estate Planning Attorney

Personalized Estate Planning Simplified 

Personalized Estate Planning Made Simple

Secure your decisions and assets

Straightforward pricing and no hidden fees

What would happen if you didn’t make it home?

What would happen if you couldn’t make your own decisions?

None of us are Going to Live Forever

We could have an accident or medical incident any moment that leaves us unable to make decisions or worse. Have  you picked who you want and made it legal? Or are you going to let a Judge decide?

Our days on this earth are numbered and, while it isn’t the most pleasant conversation piece, neglecting to face it could make things far more unpleasant for our family or friends when we’re gone.

The last thing any of us wants to do is add complication, confusion, or even conflict on top of an already challenging time.

Control Your Future

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. Our comprehensive estate planning solutions are designed to give you control over your future.

Protect Your Home 

Don’t give it all to a nursing home. Don’t lose a big chunk to probate. 

Effective Estate Planning – Protect Your Assets and Legacy 

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. Through our professional estate planning services, you will be able to stay in control.

We Get It…Estate Planning Seems Hard and Intimidating so We’re Here to Help

Estate planning can feel intimidating and paperwork too easy to put off. That’s why we’ve developed a painless estate planning process that will give you the peace of mind you deserve today, while leaving things tidy for your family down the road.

Get Everything in Order for Your Loved Ones

Estate Planning
Gary DeWitt Attorney At Law

 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.

Janet Brown
September 4, 2023.
Had a very good experience with Gary and Winnie. They were very speedy and detailed in getting several documents in order for me. I would highly recommend this law firm.
Mary Orr
August 16, 2023.
DeWitt Law Firm helped me with my Estate Planning. They were so easy to talk to and very informative of my needs. I highly recommend them for anyone looking for help planning their Estate or preparing a will.
Michael Knight
August 16, 2023.
In this fast lane era, where time is money, I worry that folks don't appreciate down to Earth direct talk. Only a few professionals will give you some honest minutes of genuine help. I know that answering machines, short attention spans, lack of interest, indifference, and failure to listen are today's reality. But today I got a friendly, attentive receptionist, who answered the phone, and sounded like my neighbor across the street. A few hours later after lunchtime, Mr Dewitt texted me directly with an enlightening conversation that made my day. He reminded me of my family Doctor. He gave me a referral to a more specialized appropriate attorney. To me, this gentleman was like a diamond in the rough.
Richard Stuart
August 12, 2023.
Gary and his staff are very friendly, knowledgeable and helpful. I was the personal representative for my aunt’s estate. She live over 400 miles away in Arkansas and Gary was her attorney. They made settling the estate, from a great distance away, very simple and easy. Gary communicated very well with me and helped me with the sale of the house, and everything else that was involved. Gary is so knowledgeable about estates, wills and trusts. We even made changes to our own estate affairs from what we learned from Gary. I highly recommend this office. They will take care of you!
James Barton
July 29, 2023.
Great, friendly advice. No pressure. They will tell you if you don't need their services. We became a client. Enough said.
Bonnie Gibson
May 25, 2023.
Great people. Helped me get my will done just the way I wanted and gave expert advice on doing things the right way. My family and I will feel so much more at ease now. Highly recommended.
John Krueger
May 4, 2023.
Gary is excellent. I highly recommend him to anyone.
William Smith
April 3, 2023.
Heard radio ad several years ago for DeWitt firm. Recently decided wisdom of setting up a trust for our estate. DeWitt has been most helpful, thorough and fee is very reasonable. We highly recommend.
Robert Shipe
March 30, 2023.
Gary was very easy to work with and walked me through the probate process. I live out of state and was able to handle everything remotely. Excellent communication and quickly answered any questions I had. Highly recommend!
Bill Durham
March 16, 2023.
Great people! Very experienced with constant communication. I highly recommend the DeWitt Law Firm.
The Best Wills and Trusts Attorney

The Best Wills and Trusts Attorney

The Best Elder Law

The Best Elder Law

Estate Planning

Three Simple Steps – Leave Nothing to Chance

Start With a Free Meeting

we’ll get to know each other and discuss any concerns or special circumstances in your family, making sure nothing is overlooked.

Design & Review

From there, you’ll complete a simple but thorough form, from the comfort of your home. Based on your answers, we’ll draft custom documents and send them to you for review.

Rest Assured Your Wishes are Known

After making sure everything is just the way you want, we’ll file your documents appropriately so you can move forward with confidence and peace of mind.

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 refers to the process of making arrangements for the management and distribution of your assets after you pass away. It is important because it ensures that your wishes are carried out, minimizes taxes and fees, protects loved ones, and provides peace of mind for you and your family.

Estate planning is about preparing for the management of your affairs and distribution of your assets during and after your lifetime. With our expertise in estate planning, 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? Who will manage their inheritance? Who will raise your minor children?

Estate Planning Expertise At Your Disposal

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.

What is My Estate?

Your own estate is everything you own. It includes life insurance policies, retirement accounts, annuities, retirement plans, IRAs, checking accounts, savings accounts, furniture, clothing, and more.

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 for Your Beneficiaries 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. Our estate planning services include setting up trusts 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 estate 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.

A trust keeps your estate out of probate and may also mean your beneficiaries get a larger inheritance. In Arkansas, a trust does not have to pay your creditors.

In a trust, you put property into it as the “grantor.” Then the “trustee,” who is you during your lifetime, or you and your spouse if your are a married couple, manages the property for the benefit of the beneficiaries. When you pass, then the trust becomes irrevocable and your successor trustee follows the rules you left.

Durable Power of Attorney: A Key Aspect of a Valid Estate Plan

What happens if you become ill or incapacitated and can no longer make decisions for yourself? Through our estate planning solutions, you can set up a financial power of attorney along with a healthcare power of attorney and have a loved one make decisions on your behalf. Powers of attorney give your representative authorization 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 care related decisions for you. 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. The Probate judge will pick your guardian. A guardian does not have as much authority to act independently. 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.

What About Estate Tax Planning?

The amount of estate tax due is based on the value of the estate. Arkansas does not have an inheritance or estate tax. The tax exemption for federal estate tax is $12,920,000.00. For a couple, you can double that amount. That means that the majority of estates will not owe estate tax unless it is in a state with the tax. Most estates don’t even need to fill out a return for inheritance taxes and send it to the internal revenue service.

How to Get Started With Your Estate Plan

Estate Planning

DeWitt Law Firm: Your Partner in Estate Planning

DeWitt Law Firm serves people with legal needs throughout Northwest Arkansas. We are ready to help you. And we serve multiple communities around Springdale, Arkansas.

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.

Helping Clients With Comprehensive Estate Planning in the Following Northwest Arkansas Communities: