Ohio Estate Planning
Planning for your future is extremely important, and the sooner you begin the process the sooner you will have peace of mind in knowing your family and everything you worked for is properly protected.
At HM Law, we work with you to come up with an estate plan tailored to you and your family that addresses your goals and concerns. Through our counseling and understanding of the law, and your understanding of the circumstances and active participation in the planning process, we will plan for the now and the future, sticking by you and your family through the years.
Stop worrying about tomorrow, and start planning today!
Last Will and Testament
A will is a foundational part of any estate plan because it allows you to specify who receives your assets after you pass away. It also allows you to name a guardian for any minor children if they are orphaned.
However, while a will is an important part of a comprehensive estate plan, it is not enough. One reason a will isn’t a complete plan to protect your interests is that a will is only valid after you die and it cannot provide control over your finances and care in the event of your incapacity. Nor does a will allow your heirs to avoid the frustration, delays, lack of privacy, and needless expense of probate.
Trusts
There are many different kinds of trusts, each capable of helping you accomplish a wide range of planning goals. A revocable living trust, for example, will allow your estate to avoid probate and give you greater control over how and when your assets will be distributed. Whereas an irrevocable trust can provide you with robust asset protection against the high cost of long-term care, lawsuits, creditors, and other threats. We can help you both determine if a trust is right for you and the type of trust (or combination of trusts) best-suited to your unique needs and those of your family.
Powers of Attorney
Powers of attorney legal documents authorize individuals you appoint to make financial or health care decisions on your behalf in the event that you are unable to do so. For example, a durable power of attorney document will allow you to name someone you trust to make decisions for you if you become incapacitated.
A power of attorney may grant limited powers to your “representative” or broad powers to make a variety of decisions regarding the management of your finances and your medical care. So, it likely goes without saying that choosing our representative is a decision you shouldn’t make lightly. And it’s extremely important to keep your power of attorney document up-to-date so that it will accomplish its goals when you need it the most.
The standard, state available forms for establishing a power attorney are insufficient to protect your best interests. That’s where our firm’s personalized expert services stand above the rest – we will help you plan and protect your interests.
Advance Directives
Advanced directives are legal documents that specifies the type of medical and personal care you wish to receive if you lose the ability to make or communicate your wishes on your own. Your advance directive can also name the person who will make or communicate your wishes for you and set forth the types of care you do or do not want in an end-of-life situation.
HIPAA Release
A HIPAA Release document lets you specify the people in your life who are allowed to access your medical information. Without such a release, your loved ones, including your spouse, may find it difficult, if not impossible, to receive any information about your condition in an emergency or help ensure your wishes are followed.
At Houck Menninger Law, LLC, we have extensive experience using all of the above documents and more to design plans capable of protecting our clients, their loved ones, and their assets. To discuss your particular needs and goals, contact us for a personal meeting.
Contact Us Today to Discuss Your Plan
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