Allentown, PA Will And Trust Lawyer

A will and trust are two important legal tools that every Pennsylvania resident should have in place today. The future isn’t guaranteed for anyone. To ensure that everyone you love and everything you care about will be protected if anything happens to you, you need to work with a knowledgeable attorney to draft a customized will and trust strategy as soon as possible. Making these estate planning tools can be complex, but our Allentown will and trust lawyer can simplify the process and give you peace of mind. Likewise, if you need to probate a will or administer the trust of a recently deceased loved one, our firm can also assist you. Call Attorney Joshua N. Daly of Daly Law Offices today to book your free consultation and get started!

Who needs a will and trust?

Pretty much everyone who lives in Pennsylvania needs to have a will and trust. Most people realize that they need a will – which they do – but there’s a popular misconception about trusts as only being required for wealthy people. That’s not necessarily the case! While a will is important because it makes your wishes known, a trust manages and secures your assets in a fiduciary relationship (outside of your own name). This allows you to provide for your and your family’s needs during your lifetime, prevents you from being disqualified from income-based programs, and transfers your assets directly to your family upon your death. If you own property or have dependents, having a trust is highly beneficial, and our Allentown will and trust lawyer can help you draft one. 

What happens if you don’t have a will or trust?

If you don’t have a will or trust, Pennsylvania’s “intestacy” laws will govern how your estate is distributed. Intestacy laws can be complex, but basically, your assets will go to your closest living relative. However, the state laws don’t know your family dynamics or your intentions for who you want to inherit what, which is why you need to have a will if you want to stay in control of your legacy and prevent family conflict. 

However, even if you have a will, if you don’t have a trust, your estate will likely have to go through a Pennsylvania court process known as probate before your assets can be transferred to your beneficiaries. This could include your house; your family may not be able to renovate or sell your property until probate is complete. Probate is notoriously complicated, time-consuming (it can take months or even years to resolve), and expensive (thousands of dollars in court fees and attorney fees). It can cause tremendous stress for your family members who just want to focus on grieving and moving forward. Having a trust prevents probate from occurring and preserves the fullness of the inheritance for your loved ones. 

Types of wills and trusts

There are many different types of wills and trusts available to you. Our Allentown will and trust lawyer can help you understand which is best for your unique circumstances. He may recommend…

• A last will and testament
• A joint or mirror will
• A living will (also called an advance directive)
• A revocable trust
• An irrevocable trust
• A pour-over trust
• A charitable trust
• A special needs trust
• And more.

Probate and trust administration

You may be visiting this page because you have recently lost a family member who left behind a will or trust, and you need legal help navigating probate or trust administration. If that’s the case, we are so sorry for your loss, and you’ve come to the right place. Our law firm frequently handles probate and trust administration cases; we do not have to be the lawyer who wrote the will or created the trust to assist you. We can guide you every step of the way to the most efficient resolution. We can also create a will and trust for you so your family can avoid probate in the future. 

What our Allentown will and trust lawyer can do for you 

You could try to get a will and trust on your own using legal advice and templates you find online, but this isn’t recommended. Any legal advice you find on the internet is generic. It isn’t personalized to your specific family dynamics or finances…it’s also probably not compliant with Pennsylvania’s specific state laws regarding estate planning. These are two critical aspects of both a will and a trust. If you pass away without a valid will and trust because it isn’t relevant to your situation, or is outdated or not compliant, your family won’t be able to benefit from your effort, and it may be just as if you had never made either document in the first place. 

Making a will and trust is also complicated if you’re not familiar with the process. Creating a trust especially requires extensive legal knowledge and experience, which is where an attorney’s guidance comes in. It’s important to work with a professional who has that knowledge, experience, and education necessary to achieve your legal goals. 

Attorney Joshua N. Daly, our lead Allentown will and trust lawyer, can lead you to a sound will and trust strategy. He can…

• Take the time to listen to you and get to know you so he can provide customized, comprehensive legal assistance
• Review a list of your income sources and assets so he is familiar with your financial situation
• Explain your legal options (such as what type of will and trust you should have)
• Answer all of your questions about wills and trusts
• Draft customized legal documents that will protect your assets and your family and prevent probate
• Ensure your family knows what your will and trust do and where they are 
• And more!

Why Choose Daly Law Offices

Attorney Joshua N. Daly has 15 years of experience helping Pennsylvania families design wills and trusts that fit their unique needs. His skill and reputation for excellence has earned him membership of the prestigious National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA), Pennsylvania Association of Elder Law Attorneys (PA l ELA), and Estate Planning Council of the Lehigh Valley, in addition to being awarded the Lawyers of Distinction 2022. When you work with our Allentown will and trust lawyer, you will receive an unparalleled level of dedicated attention and quality service. Daly Law Offices provides practical solutions, professional integrity, and peace of mind for all of our clients! We’re focused on helping you plan for tomorrow so you can enjoy today without worry. Call today to book your free consultation and discover more about how we can assist you!