ESTATE PLANNING While nobody wants to think about death or disability, establishing an estate plan is one of the most important steps you can take to protect yourself and your loved ones.  Having such a plan will not only spare your loved ones of the expense, delay and frustration associated with managing your affairs when you pass away or become disabled, but also ensure that your wishes are honored, that all you have worked for is protected and properly distributed, that family harmony is preserved, and, most importantly, that your loved ones are provided for.  Estate planning can include wills and trusts, as well as powers of attorney, health care directives and nominations of guardians for minor children. You work hard accumulating assets and wealth; we work equally hard to help you preserve your home and your savings and protecting your family. With proper Estate Planning, you can accomplish a wide range of goals including: Maintaining control over the management of your assets in the event of your incapacity; Ensuring your spouse is protected in the event you require nursing home care; Providing solutions for problems arising from special heirs such as minors, spendthrifts or the disabled (See Link to Special Needs Trusts; Minors Trusts) Transferring business assets from one generation to another (See link to Business Succession Planning); Protecting inheritances against the risk that your beneficiaries divorce or get sued; Avoiding the probate court upon your death; Planning for retirement benefits; Eliminating or minimizing estate taxes,(See link to Insurance Trusts) Marital Property Planning (pre-nuptial agreements; transmutation agreements); Creating Special Trusts for unique situations (See Link to Settlement Trusts; Gun Trusts) Charitable planning (including Private Foundations; Non-Profit Organizations; Charitable Trusts) Conclusion A well-crafted estate plan should provide for your loved ones in an effective and efficient manner by avoiding conservatorship during your lifetime(s), probate at death, estate taxes and unnecessary delays.  We at The Law Offices of Patrick McNally do not "sell" packaged trusts and wills.  We believe that estate planning is a process that involves working with our clients to develop plans that fit the special needs and objectives of each client.  We will review your specific family and financial situation, your goals and explain the various options available to you.   Once your estate plan is in place, you will have peace of mind knowing that you have provided for yourself and your family in case the worst happens. It’s never too early or too late to develop a comprehensive estate plan.  Please contact us to schedule a confidential consultation to review your current documents or to put an estate plan to work for you.