Bethlehem, PA Estate Planning Lawyer

You may not want to think about the future, especially when it involves the prospect of your own death or illness; no one wants to plan for a time when they are not around to enjoy life with and provide for their families. However, that is exactly what you need to do now by working with an experienced attorney to create a comprehensive estate plan. While Our knowledgeable Bethlehem estate planning lawyer can work with you and your family to simplify the process, get your affairs in order, and find peace of mind knowing that no matter what tomorrow holds, everything and everyone that matters most to you will be secure. Call Daly Law Offices now to schedule a free consultation and get started!

What Is Estate Planning?

An estate plan allows you to plan for the management of your assets during your lifetime and the orderly transfer of assets in accordance with your wishes upon your death. Family members will not have to guess about what you would have wanted to happen if you die or become incapacitated and unable to make decisions for yourself, nor will they have to go to court to sort out these issues. Estate planning is all about making your family’s life easier. You are preparing the necessary documents now that will be effective when your family needs them later!

Your estate plan may include the following:

• A will that states your wishes for your property after your death
• Trusts to safeguard assets for loved ones and avoid the probate process 
• Beneficiary designations on investment and retirement accounts and life insurance proceeds
• Guardianship designation for minor children and your wishes for how they are to be raised
• Powers of attorney to allow others to make healthcare and financial decisions on your behalf when you can no longer

Your life doesn’t look like anyone else’s, and your estate plan shouldn’t either; what documents your estate plan includes will depend on your unique goals, family dynamics, and financial circumstances. Our Bethlehem estate planning lawyer will ensure that your estate plan is personalized to you! 

Why Is Estate Planning Important?

You can never just hope for the best when it comes to your estate plan. Without a plan, you will lose the ability to have any influence on what may happen when you can no longer make your wishes known. Pennsylvania state laws will control what happens to your money and your family members. Not only that, but your family may end up having to face confusing, stressful, expensive court processes like probate and navigate a lot of paperwork during a time that they should be focusing on mourning and moving forward. 

Estate planning is all about having an influence on the future and securing your legacy. You have worked hard to both build wealth and take care of your family, and you do not want to leave anything to chance! You do not want a court making decisions for your family when you can have already made them and committed those decisions to writing. 

What Can Our Bethlehem Estate Planning Lawyer Do for You?

There is no law that says that you must work with an estate planning attorney, so many people try to avoid the cost of legal guidance by taking a DIY approach using template forms. However, internet advice and pre-packaged legal forms may not be accurate, and will likely not meet your family’s specific needs.

Anything that you read on the internet will not be tailored to your own specific situation. Some faceless internet writer does not know you or your family’s finances. In addition, these forms may not even meet Pennsylvania’s most up-to-date legal requirements, meaning that they may not even be effective when your family needs to use them.

Estate planning is complex, and you need an attorney who can both see the bigger picture and help you with a comprehensive estate plan. You need much more than a will to take care of your family! 

Our Bethlehem estate planning lawyer can help you in the following ways:

• Getting to know you and your own unique needs
• Taking the time to learn and understand your financial situation
• Explaining your legal options and what we think should be a part of your estate plan
• Drafting the necessary documents for your estate plan to ensure that everything is done correctly, without mistakes 
• Explaining the estate plan to your family and ensuring that they understand how it works
• Answering all your questions in a clear fashion
• And more. 

Call Daly Law Offices today to book a free consultation. Attorney Joshua N. Daly has over 14 years of experience in estate planning law and focuses on providing practical solutions, professional integrity, and peace of mind to all of his clients. He can help you preserve your legacy!