Easton, PA Estate Planning Lawyer

As much as anyone would love to live forever, eventually, we will all leave the people we love behind. However, we can make the transition for them easier by getting our affairs in order sooner rather than later. No one is guaranteed tomorrow; because making your wishes known and rearranging ownership for your assets after your death according to Pennsylvania law can be complicated, you need to work with an Easton estate planning lawyer who can set you and your loved ones up well for the future! At Daly Law Offices, we can translate complex legal jargon into information you can easily understand so you feel empowered to make the best choices. We can simplify what can be an overwhelming process and give you peace of mind. Call today to request a free consultation and get started!

Why Should You Consider Estate Planning?

Estate planning lays out what will happen to your assets if you pass away suddenly or become incapacitated. It helps give your family and the Pennsylvania state government clear instructions regarding what you want. You can make all necessary arrangements for your family and assets while you are still able to do so, so that no matter what happens to you, they will be provided for.  

Most people know that they should have a will, even if they haven’t gotten around to making one yet, but just having a will isn’t the most secure form of estate protection you can have (for reasons we’ll expound upon below). An effective estate plan usually has other documents that guard your hard-earned assets comprehensively. These may include:

• A Will: Your legal wishes that take effect after your death, including your preferred method of burial, desires regarding asset distribution, and desires regarding guardianship for minor children or pets
• A Trust: A fiduciary agreement that provides for the management of your assets according to the terms of a  legal document for the benefit of a third party or beneficiary
• Guardianships: Your designation for who will care for your minor children or other dependents if you are no longer able to do so due to death or incapacitation
• Powers of Attorney (POA): Your designation of someone who you want to make medical decisions for you if you are incapacitated
• Health Care Directives: What medical decisions you want made for your care if you are incapacitated
• And more.

We will take the time to get to know your unique financial situation and family dynamics so that we can help you choose which legal documents you need to protect yourself, your loved ones, and your wealth. Our Easton estate planning lawyer can explain your options and draft personalized documents that will accomplish your goals. 

The Importance of Estate Planning

If you pass away or become incapacitated without an estate plan in place, you could be leaving your family in a difficult situation. They may not know what you would have wanted in terms of medical care or burial specifics, or who you wanted to inherit what. They might disagree over how your estate should be divided, which can lead to family conflict or even to lawsuits – the last thing that you want them to have to deal with while they’re grieving. 

Not having an estate plan also means that Pennsylvania state laws, not your wishes, will govern how and when your estate is distributed through a court process known as probate. Probate is confusing, time-consuming, and expensive. It can increase your family’s stress as they are grieving, can deplete the inheritance that you expected them to receive, and can take months or years to complete, before which time your family may not be able to acquire your possessions. Estate plans will keep your assets from having to undergo probate by transferring them directly to your beneficiaries. 

How Daly Law Offices Can Help You

Many people put off estate planning because it can be a highly emotional process; it’s not pleasant to think about death, but thinking about the future now can save your family a lot of heartache later, and our Easton estate planning lawyer can make the entire process easier on you. Attorney Joshua N. Daly has over 15 years of experience guiding families in Pennsylvania through estate planning. 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. You can rely on his knowledge and experience to ease your fears and save you time and money. Call today to book a free consultation and learn more about what Daly Law Offices can do to serve you!