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Arkansas Estate Planning Law Firm in Springdale

Northwest Arkansas Wills & Trusts

Show Your Family How Much You Care

Wills and Trusts

Feel secure, maintain control, and have peace of mind by Protecting you, your loved ones, and assets the best way possible

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Facing Uncertainty

In a world full of uncertainties, not having an estate plan can leave your family in a maze of legal complexities, especially in cases of incapacity or death. Without your directives, decisions about your health, assets, and estate may fall into the hands of the court through probate or guardianship, a process that can be lengthy, costly, and emotionally taxing for your loved ones.

With DeWitt Law Firm, you are not only protecting your assets from probate but also ensuring your wishes are respected in times of incapacity. An estate plan crafted with us means clarity and direction for your family during challenging times, safeguarding your legacy and providing peace of mind that your affairs are in order, come what may.

Avoid the Mess of Probate for Your Family’s Peace of Mind

Effective estate planning saves your family from the headaches, expenses, and anguish of probate, eases their lives, and gives you peace of mind

Protect Your Home From the Nursing Home and Probate With an Estate Plan

Don’t give it all to a nursing home. Don’t lose a big chunk to probate. Know somebody you know and trust will be in charge when you can’t be.

Rest Easy & Stop Worrying When Your Estate Plan is Done

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.

We Get it…Wills and Trusts 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 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.

Wills and Trusts
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.

Tanaya Lucke
November 8, 2023.
I am so thankful I found this firm. They went above and beyond to help in my very stressful situation. They took the stress of the legal work away and I could breath. I wish I could give 10 starts. Highly recommend!
DeDe Cottingham
October 28, 2023.
The folks at DeWitt Law Firm are great. I would highly recommend them for your estate planning needs. They are friendly, thorough, and explain the entire process on a level you can understand. They provided excellent counsel for our next steps.
ivo kool
October 4, 2023.
Really Helpful and Skilled in setting up trust. Great to work with
Patty Marchbanks
September 9, 2023.
Gary and his wife were so friendly and knowledgeable with helping us with our Estate . They answered all our questions and gave us directions in things we hadn’t thought about. If you are thinking about getting your State planning done my husband and I highly recommend them !
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!
The Best Wills and Trusts Attorney

The Best Wills and Trusts Attorney

The Best Elder Law

The Best Elder Law

Wills and Trusts

Three Simple Steps – Leave Nothing to Chance

Free Consultation

Free Consultation

Schedule a free initial consultation to discuss your needs, followed by an assessment where the attorney recommends a customized estate plan.

Draft & Review

Draft & Review

We will draft your estate plan, including wills, trusts, and other necessary documents. You then review and approve these documents, ensuring they align with your goals.

Sign and Rest Easy

Sign and Rest Easy

Sign the documents to officially finalize your plan. We are available for any future updates or adjustments as your life circumstances change.

What Happens Without a Will – Intestate Administration in Arkansas

If you don’t have a Will State law determines what happens to what you had. This process is called “Intestate Administration.” The State has a plan written that says who gets what, when, how, and how much! The Judge controls most of “Intestate Administration” following state law. If you only have a Last Will and Testament your family faces the ordeal of Probate. Probate is much like “Intestate Administration” except you leave a list of who gets what, when, how, and how much. You also use your Last Will to nominate who will raise minor children or care for disabled children. Here are the basics of what happens without a Will in Arkansas Probate Court:

  • Your spouse gets 1/3rd of everything other than real estate
  • Your spouse gets 1/3rd of the real estate for life (a “life estate”)
  • Your children get the other 2/3rds

Types of Trusts

The main thing to remember is that trusts are used to protect family, protect assets, and avoid probate.

Revocable Trust

This trust is setup during your lifetime. Under the terms of the Trust, you can change or even revoke the trust while living and competent. These trusts do not protect assets from Medicaid or help you qualify for Medicaid. The main purposes of a revocable trust are to avoid probate, provide for asset management, and protect your children from their problems later.

Irrevocable Trust

Generally an irrevocable trust cannot be changed. Once assets go in, they stay in. If the grantor and ALL the beneficiaries agree, the terms can be changed in Arkansas. These trusts DO protect assets against Medicaid. BUT you need 5 years for this protection to be absolute. Until then, Medicaid will impose a penalty period for the transfer to the irrevocable trust.

How to Get Started

Book Your 15-Minute Call Now

Estate Planning Bella Vista, Bentonville, Rogers, Springdale, and Fayetteville Arkansas.