Do I Really Need a Sanibel Estate Planning Lawyer?
Estate planning seems like a very complicated legal term, especially if you are not a lawyer and have no interest to act like one. However, it is an essential thing—every Sanibel resident should get their estate planned by an estate planning lawyer. Basically, do not view estate planning as a wealthy person’s affair. Below are three major situations that may prompt you to hire a Sanibel Estate Planning Attorney:
State Laws Rule Estate Plans
It is worth noting that state laws give specific guidelines about what should and what should not be included in an estate plan, a will, as well as in financial or medical power of attorney. The state laws also direct people who are and those who are not qualified to serve as personal representatives, trustees health care surrogates or attorneys. Furthermore, they are very specific about those who can and those who cannot be witnesses to a will, a trust, or a power of attorney. Additionally, state laws give guidelines to the formalities that have to be observed when signing a trust, will, or power of attorney.
For instance, in Sanibel, your personal representative must be related to you either by marriage or blood. If you do not have one, a resident of the state can be your personal representative.
Therefore, you should hire a Sanibel estate planning attorney to help you avoid making mistakes for “estate plans” that cannot be enforced.
Eventually Economical
You may think that you are saving a few dollars by using the forms you downloaded from the Internet or using do-it-yourself books and tutorials rather than hiring a Sanibel estate planning attorney. Sadly, your heirs and beneficiaries may walk the hard road when they realize that part or all your estate plan was legally invalid and cannot work as you intended. Accordingly, they will have to spend thousands of dollars on Sanibel estate planning lawyers to fix your mistake when you are no more or incapacitated.
Sorting out Complex Financial or Family Situations
These situations can easily be sorted by having a Sanibel estate planning lawyer:
- If you are in a second (or later) marriage
- If you are recently divorced
- If you want to leave some or all your estate to charity
- If you recently lost a spouse or other family member(s)
- If you own one or more businesses
- If you have a taxable estate
- If you own real estate in one or more states
- If you have a disabled family member
- If you have minor children
- If you do not have a child
- If you have substantial assets
If one or some of these situations or circumstances apply to you, you really need a Sanibel estate planning attorney to help you create a valid estate plan to ensure that your wealth is distributed as you intended.
Getting Started
Even though not everyone needs a Sanibel estate planning lawyer to plan their estates—several templates can be found online—but it is very important to have a qualified estate planning attorney, especially if you have accumulated a significant amount of wealth or one or more of the aforementioned situations apply to you. You will definitely benefit having a lawyer look over your estate plan. For more information, questions, or inquiries, do not hesitate to contact The Mattar Firm. Our highly qualified Sanibel estate planning attorneys are always willing, ready, and happy to serve you.