Our comprehensive Estate Planning Services meet your needs: Although "Estate Planning" used to mean preparing a "simple" will, this is not what is meant in the 21st Century with various options to consider of non-probate transfers, beneficiaries of life insurance and retirement plans, joint tenancies, various kinds of trusts, and life estates. Our estate planning services for persons include:

  • Reviewing the forms of property ownership and the intent for its disposition at the death of an owner;
  • Learning any health or special needs issues of clients and their families in relation to how the property is to be maintained during life or distributed at death;
  • Addressing specific client and family circumstances such as desire to "stretch out" distribution of IRAs, provisions for children of prior marriage, creating incentives or disincentives for beneficiary behavior;
  • Educating clients about confusing options and assisting them to choose what would best meet their needs;
  • Mapping out a plan to meet client needs;
  • Advising on and preparing necessary legal documents of beneficiary and life estate deed, wills, living and other trusts for distribution, transfer-on-death designations for personal property, and joint-tenancy deeds;
  • Preparing appropriate healthcare and financial durable powers of attorney to permit desired decision-making by others in the event of client incapacity;
  • Preparing special needs trusts if planning involves a spouse or child with a disability.
  • Identifying and applying for any private or public benefits that the client may be eligible for (such as Social Security, Veteran's Benefits, Medicare, and MO HealthNet).