Wilmington Probate Attorney | Delaware Estate Planning Lawyer | Dover, Delaware Beaches, New Castle County, DE

We so often hear that hard work is the path to achieving the American dream. But retaining as much of our earnings as possible for our family can be a challenge. An experienced estate planning attorney can work with you to assure that your hard work results in the accumulation of assets that are protected from liabilities. Asset protection planning can insure that tax liabilities are minimized for your family after you have gone. Contact an estate planning attorney today to get started.

Like it or not-each day of our life we get older. If you need extended nursing home care, you will want to insure the assets you have spent a lifetime accumulating will not suddenly disappear. Your home and other assets will need to be protected for your family. The court will appoint a stranger to act as your conservator or guardian in the event you have not previously chosen one.. These are issues that you have control over and consulting with an estate planning attorney will allow you to plan your future as you get older.

Many people die without having made estate plans such as preparing a will or setting up a trust. When this occurs, the law dictates how your property is distributed and a court may pick the guardian of your children. Dying without making estate plans can also increase the likelihood that your loved ones will not be cared for. Too many people put off addressing these important issues when simply meeting with a qualified estate planning attorney will provide you with lasting peace of mind.

In many such cases in which a person becomes incapacitated, courts appoint an outsider to make decisions about financial and health matters. The way to insure that a person of your choosing will act on your behalf is to designate somebody through a power of attorney. Working with an experienced estate planning attorney, you will gain peace of mind in knowing that, should you become incapacitated, your interests will be protected in the manner that you choose.

Wilmington Law Firm Handling Estate Planning and Probate

Estate Planning is about more than drafting documents. It is about forming a personal relationship with your attorney and creating a system of wealth preservation for the future of your children, family, and friends. For comprehensive estate planning, call our Wilmington, Delaware, office at (302) 656-7540.

Do you need an experienced attorney for estate planning or the probate of an estate? Our attorneys have more than 50 years of combined experience in estate planning and probate matters. Call The Hogan Firm, located in Wilmington, at (302) 656-7540.

Need help with wills, trusts, revocable wills, living wills, advance medical directives, and other estate planning documents? Call The Hogan Firm in Wilmington, Delaware, at (302) 656-7540.

Estate Planning - An Overview

Estate planning allows an individual to plan for his or her lifetime objectives and to provide direction about the disposition of his or her assets after death. Estate planning can include wills and trusts as well as powers of attorney and healthcare directives. Estate planning is impacted by state and federal law, and any individual may find that more elaborate or creative legal means are necessary for his or her situation. Some of these more complex techniques include trusts, family limited partnerships (FLPs), and limited liability companies (LLCs). An estate planning lawyer can be an essential ally in assuring that your estate planning goals are understood and carried out. If you have estate planning-related legal questions, call our firm today to schedule a consultation with an estate planning lawyer.

Asset Protection and Estate Planning

An important goal of estate planning is to protect income and assets from creditors’ claims and tax collection. While many people think asset protection involves shady or dishonest techniques, there are many ways to protect financial reserves, personal property, real estate, and other assets for retirement or for future generations. In addition to federal and state laws that exempt certain types of property from creditors’ claims, taxation, or both, there are numerous estate planning tools that may be able to shield assets from future creditors and reduce or eliminate estate or income taxation. If you are interested in working with an estate planning attorney to create a plan to protect your assets, contact our firm today to schedule a consultation.

Estate Planning Needs of the Elderly

Elder law deals with the legal, financial, and health needs of senior citizens. The country’s average age is advancing all the time, and now even baby-boomers are dealing with health issues and legal concerns they had not anticipated. In addition to estate planning, elder law attorneys also help with preparing for long-term healthcare needs, applying for government programs, addressing financial fraud, combating physical abuse, and establishing guardianships and conservatorships. If you have elder law or estate planning-related legal questions, call our firm today to schedule a consultation with an estate planning lawyer.

Wills and Trusts

A will is a document that tells a person’s family or heirs and the courts how to distribute his or her money and property. A will is a basic estate planning tool, and a current and valid will is the best way to make sure your property is distributed according to your wishes and your family is taken care of after you’re gone. Many people also use trusts in conjunction with their will, as an independent estate planning tool, or both. Whether you want to prepare your first will or you are interested in updating your estate plan or exploring trusts, an estate planning lawyer can help you tailor a plan to your needs.

Powers of Attorney

A power of attorney is a legal document in which a person (the principal) designates and authorizes another person (the agent or attorney-in-fact) to transact business or make certain decisions on his or her behalf. When a power of attorney is in effect, the agent essentially steps into the shoes of the principal and makes decisions that are legally binding on the principal. Powers of attorney can grant broad, general authority (known as a general power of attorney) or they can limit the attorney-in-fact's power to act on behalf of the principal to particular situations (known as a special power of attorney). Because there are many different types of powers of attorney available to address a variety of situations, powers of attorney are extremely useful estate planning tools. If you are interested in drafting a power of attorney, contact our firm to schedule a consultation with an estate planning attorney.

Estate Planning Resource Links

How Much Estate Tax Will You Pay?
This estate tax calculator adds up many different types of assets to get an estimated estate tax figure for your current estate.

Federal Estate Tax Laws
The Federal Estate Tax laws start at Section 2001 of the Internal Revenue Code.

Federal Gift Tax Laws
The Federal Gift Tax laws start at Section 2501 of the Internal Revenue Code. The estate and gift tax laws should be looked at together because there are many overlapping provisions; state laws should also be considered.

Social Security Administration Retirement Planner
The federal Social Security Administration provides retirement planning and disability benefit information from this Web site.

Administration on Aging—Resource Directory for Older People
This directory helps senior citizens and their families find helpful organizations and programs for their specific needs.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Estate Planning

Q: What is a will?

A: A will is a written legal document with instructions for distributing an individual's assets after his or her death. A will must be formally executed as required by state law to be legally valid and enforceable.

Q: How can a person change his or her will?

A: A will is typically valid and effective until it is revoked, destroyed, or invalidated by writing a new will. Alterations to an existing will, such as crossing out language or adding a new provision, do not usually meet the legal requirements for executing a valid will and do not affect the terms of an existing will; however, changes or additions to an existing will can be made by codicil. A codicil is a document executed in compliance with applicable state law that modifies an existing will or codicil.

Estate Planning & Probate Information