The process of planning a person’s estate is called an elder law plan. It is intended to help protect the interests of your future family from creditors, when you pass away, and to ensure that your wishes are respected during your lifetime. An elder law attorney can be a very valuable asset in ensuring that your wishes are followed and all your assets are distributed according to the law. Here are some of the basics you should know about elder law and how it affects your estate plan.
An elder law, estate plan is very much like an adult will. It is designed to protect your interests in property and financial affairs during your lifetime and to ensure that they remain in your name alone. Unlike the will, which is rarely used in estate planning today, a proper elder law estate plan can help ensure that all beneficiaries get their fair share of assets upon your death. If there are no written provisions for your estate or trust, an elder law attorney can help you draft a plan ahead of time so that all beneficiaries have a clear understanding of the steps to be taken after you pass away, said an elder law lawyer in Miami.
You may think that financial assets like real estate and cars are exempt from the probate laws that apply to everyone else. That’s not the case though as probate can force distribution of your assets to distant family members in addition to creditors you may have. Elder law and estate planning attorneys can help you determine if you need to change your legal protections or if your original plan still applies.
A good lawyer can also help you negotiate the transfer of your assets during your lifetime and ensure that these transactions do not violate elder laws or the rights of other relatives. Many people do not understand what happens once a relative passes on, even if that relative was well-known for being very frugal. When an elder law attorney is retained, a family meeting can be arranged to go over how property and money will be dealt with after the death of the last living relative.
Estate and elder law are different than other types of personal law because it deals with the assets and financial interests of others. According to Miami elder law and probate attorney, it can be a complicated area of the law, but the right lawyer can make it easier to navigate. There are several types of trusts: revocable or irrevocable trusts, also known as life-estate; power of attorney or living trust; and devise or living trust. Although there are specific rules governing each of these types, their basic structure remains the same.
Life-estate trusts must be established before distribution of the assets can take place. Power of attorney and living trusts can be created after death, however, and are operated exactly the same way as life-estate trusts. Deceivers and administrators can be family members or the lawyer. An experienced elder law attorney can help you set up a trust or take care of it once you pass away so your estate assets will remain protected and secure. For more information visit www.georgiaprobateattorneys.net.