Stacey Walters is very professional and explains everything pertaining to estate planning in a way that is easy to understand. She took the time to find out about our family’s circumstances and helped us decide what best suited our estate planning needs…
Accomplished Raleigh Estate Planning Attorneys Securing the Financial Future of Families Throughout North Carolina
Planning for your future may not seem as exciting as it initially sounds but it can be one of the most beneficial things you do in your life, for yourself and for your family. Families can be complex, especially if you have a large one. It may be important to continue your legacy long after you have passed away by setting up an estate plan that protects your wealth and ensures your family is well taken care of and protected in the long run. These plans consist of various legal tools that can fulfill pressing needs that you want to ensure are accounted for. Wills, trusts, powers of attorney, advance directives, health care plans, and more can be planned out with the help of an estate law attorney. Reach out to our law firm as soon as you can so we can get started putting together an efficient plan for you.
How May We Help You?
No matter what aspect of estate planning, estate administration, and probate you need assistance with, our team of estate planning lawyers can help you craft a plan that works for you and administer an estate with ease.
With the primary goal of protecting your family's overall financial wellness, both in the short term and the long term, estate planning utilizes several legal tools and documents that can ensure that you and your family are well taken care of for years to come.
Following the death of a loved one, you may be tasked with administering an estate as a designated executor. From distributing property and assets to the rightful heir to paying off taxes, seek the help you need to achieve your duties with our help.
Sometimes lengthy but nearly always necessary, probate ushers you through the distribution of assets to the beneficiaries of an estate. Things aren't as simple as they seem during probate, and family disputes may arise. Let an estate planning lawyer help you through the probate process.
With significant financial benefits including tax reduction, and the ability to skip out on the lengthy probate process, trusts can be used for a multitude of reasons in order to maximize the support you and your family can receive. Our law firm can talk you through your options.
When the grantor of a trust passes away, you may be responsible for administering the trust they set up. Having the fiduciary responsibility of settling debts with creditors, filing estate documents, and distributing assets to the beneficiaries of the trust deserves a little assistance. Let our attorneys help.
If you have a child or family member with special needs, you may want to do whatever it takes to get them to most health care benefits possible without compromising the care you can also provide them financially. Let one of our attorneys set up a special needs trust that can secure your child's future.
With legal methods of reducing the taxes you owe on your assets and protecting them from other liabilities, you may want to have one of our asset protection attorneys assist you in setting up a trust that can provide great asset protection benefits for years to come.
When an unforeseen or unexpected incident strikes, it is critical to have someone designated to have power of attorney in order to act on your behalf. Designating someone to have the power of attorney can provide you and your family with the help you need when it matters the most.
What Does Estate Planning Consist Of?
Estate planning is broad and encompasses a variety of legal tools, documents, and methods meant to provide you with financial security, protection, and a strategy that will help your family following your death. The common core aspects of estate planning include:
- Wills: Whether it’s a traditional last will and testament or the more flexible living wills, wills are the backbone of many estate plans for our clients.
- Trusts: Trusts can be set up for many different needs including giving you the eligibility to be on Medicaid, protecting your assets, retirement plan, and life insurance policies from creditors, and minimizing the impact taxes have on your assets.
- Powers of Attorney: Through various powers of attorney including health care power of attorney, you can designate someone you trust to act on your behalf in case you are no longer able to make decisions for yourself.
Our Managing Partners
Both locally and nationally, our team of trusted estate planning attorneys has years of combined experience and can provide you with unparalleled support whether you are simply trying to establish an effective plan or need assistance administering an estate.
How Do I Find a Good Estate Planning Attorney?
Estates may end up relying on the effective planning of a lawyer to save time and money in the future. Finding a law firm with experienced estate planning attorneys can make your life easier. Whether you have financial and family goals that you want to have protected or you want to optimize your assets to get the most out of them, our lawyers can provide you with the service you need to feel confident about your estate moving forward. A good estate planning lawyer should have an understanding of every aspect of estate planning including how to handle important estate documents, help executors and trustees fulfill their duties, help clients with health care powers of attorney, and more. Our law firm has the team of lawyers you need, with the experience you need, to make sure your estate and its affairs are in order while you’re still here and long after you have passed away.
How Much Does It Cost to Have an Attorney Prepare a Will?
The cost of preparing a valid will can vary from attorney to attorney. While you aren’t required to hire a lawyer to draft and prepare a will, you may want to consider doing so to avoid any serious mistakes. Wills must be valid in order for your will to be used during probate. Sometimes, a probate judge can rule against the validity of your will because of simple mistakes that you made while creating it. This is why hiring a lawyer can not only save your family precious time but can also save them significant money in the long run. An attorney can provide you with the assistance you need to draft a valid will and even modify your will after it has been created. We understand that circumstances may change in your life that require you to alter your will. We can take care of that and any other will-related issues for you.
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How Can Thomas-Walters Assist Me Through the Estate Planning Process?
With an estate planning attorney by your side, you can rest assured that your assets, properties, and family will be well taken care of. Families around the country have benefitted greatly from estate planning. Let us help you build one that protects all you have worked for to ensure your family gets to enjoy the fruits of your labor.
Thomas-Walters, PLLC’s location is about 4 miles away from Leesville Community Park, about 15 minutes away from Annie Louise Wilkerson, MD Nature Preserve Park, and about 7 miles away from North Carolina Wesleyan College. Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) is 8 minutes away from our Raleigh law location. For your planning, administration, and probate-related needs, trust us to give you the service you deserve. Contact us in Raleigh today to schedule a free consultation with our experienced estate planning attorneys by calling 252-899-2410.