Estate Planning

Work closely with our attorneys to develop a specialized estate plan that will serve both you and your loved ones through all stages of your life.  A comprehensive estate plan addresses not only the transfer of your assets upon death, but also provides support and security for you during your lifetime.

Will

The Last Will and Testament is a fundamental component of any estate plan. A Will is a legal document that indicates to the Probate court your direction as to how you want your assets distributed upon your death. In the Will, you will nominate an Executor to be the person appointed by the court to administer this process, and manage the distributions. Importantly for those with minor children, your Will is also the document where you indicate your preference as to the guardian of your children in the event of your untimely death. 

Durable Power of Attorney

Though they do not receive as much attention as Wills or Trusts, Durable Powers of Attorney are a critical component of any estate plan. These documents nominate an "attorney-in-fact" who can act for you in an wide range of financial situations. This is an important part of planning for short-term or long-term lifetime incapacity, and can even be helpful if there comes a point when your mind is perfectly sound, but you simply decide that you would like a bit of help managing your affairs. 

Revocable Trust

The Revocable Living Trust is a favored tool in the modern estate planning toolkit. This flexible document is completely private, and acts as a "will substitute," directing the transfer of your assets upon your death outside of the Probate process. Revocable Trusts are also extremely useful for their ability to flexibly structure asset distribution in a way that takes into account the individual situations and needs that each of your beneficiaries may have. In your Trust, you will appoint a successor Trustee to take over management of the trust after your death, and to administer the assets according to the terms that you provide.

New Hampshire Advance Directive

Equally as important as the Durable Power of Attorney, is the New Hampshire Advance Directive. This document consists of two parts, a "Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare," and a "Living Will." In this document, you will name an agent who can make healthcare decisions for you in the event that you are not able to. You will also indicate your preferences regarding end of life care, and any particularized health care wishes that you may have.