Experienced Wills, Trusts and Estate Lawyer

Drafting a will, trust or estate planning document is not necessarily a simple process. There are important tax implications as well as distribution determinations at stake. It is important to hire an experienced estate planning attorney to help you craft these types of documents. An attorney can ensure that your will can hold up as valid in court and will protect your assets from estate taxes or future litigation or a will contest.

Jonathan S. Berck understands that crafting an estate plan to meet your needs requires the one-on-one attention that you deserve. He helps clients and their families examine future needs. He provides the personalized service that will ensure that those future financial goals are met.

For more information on how Mr. Berck can help you draft your will or other estate planning documents, contact the law offices of Jonathon S. Berck today.

Types of Wills

Depending on your financial situation and your goals for the future, there might be several types of wills that are right for you and your family. These may include:

Simple individual wills
Pour-over wills
Wills involving children from multiple marriages
Wills that establish a trust for disabled or minor children
"Living Wills"

Distinguishing between these types of documents and trying to determine which one is right for you can be a complex and difficult task. Choosing the wrong type of document could leave your estate facing significant taxes or a lengthy probate battle.

The Use of Trusts

The creation of trusts is a part of the larger process estate planning. Trusts can be used for many purposes, including but not limited to the following:

to help a family looking to provide for minor or disable children.
to transfer assets out of the probatable estate
to provide protection from the claims of creditors
to provide vehicles for transfers to third parties -- charitable or otherwise -- while retaining income during one's lifetime
to make charitable gifts during your lifetime, and transferring the remainder to loved ones thereafter

Moreover, there are other vehicles that may be appropriate in special situations, such as family corporations, life insurance and annuities, life insurance trusts and asset protection trusts, and the utilization of different tax structures. There is no standard template; all plans must be individually tailored, monitored and adjusted as circumstances and changes in applicable regulations dictate.

Mr. Berck has the knowledge and understanding of estate planning tools to help you and your family prepare for the future. Contact him for more information on how he can help you secure your assets.