Springfield Wills & Trusts Attorney
As part of your estate plan, you should definitely include both a will and a trust. Each provides unique benefits and will serve in making your estate plan more robust. At the law office of Courtney & Mills, LLC, our Springfield wills & trusts attorneys can help you to create both of these, as well as other estate planning documents that you want included in your plan. Call us today to learn more.
What Is a Will?
A will, or a last will and testament, is a legal document that identifies an executor/administrator of your estate and addresses:
- How your estate will be divided;
- How you want your debts to be paid;
- Who should serve as the guardian for any minor children you have;
- What should happy to a business you own; and
- Any other wishes or preferences for your property.
A will is an important estate planning document because, without a will, your estate could be subjected to Missouri’s intestacy laws, which determine to whom your assets are distributed.
What Is a Trust?
A trust, on the other hand, is a fiduciary relationship where the person who creates the trust, known as the grantor, gives the trustee the right to administer the trust. Through this relationship, assets that are held in the trust will be distributed to the beneficiaries of the trust per the trust’s terms. There are many different types of trusts – an attorney can help you to identify which one is most appropriate for you.
A trust is an important part of an estate plan because it can safeguard your assets, provide a clear roadmap for how you want assets distributed, and even mitigate taxes in some cases.
How Our Springfield Wills & Trusts Attorney Can Help
When you choose our law firm, you can count on our lawyers to:
- Explain to you the ins and outs of wills and trusts;
- Make recommendations for wills and trusts that are consistent with other elements of your estate plan;
- Handle the drafting/creation of a will or a trust to ensure that it is legally sound and valid;
- Answer questions for your family and beneficiaries about your will and trust;
- Aid your loved ones in the probate process or distribution of your estate after your death; and
- More.
Our attorneys strongly believe that wills and trusts are a critical part of a sound estate plan that help to ensure that your wishes are protected and that your loved ones won’t have any unanswered questions or ambiguity around administering your estate at the time of your death.
Call Our Springfield Wills & Trusts Attorney Today
If you haven’t started your estate plan yet, or if you have put together a document or two but don’t have as comprehensive of an estate plan as you’d like, our wills and trusts attorneys in Springfield can help. We are happy to start from scratch, or work with you to modify existing elements of your estate plan. To learn more, please call our law firm directly today or send us a message at your convenience.
