When you are planning your estate you would do well to engage the services of a local northern Kentucky probate lawyer. Though you have alternatives, such as a revocable living trust, if you use a last will as your primary vehicle to transfer assets, your estate must pass through the legal process of probate. So when your will is being constructed, it should be done with the expectations of the local probate court in mind.
This is something to consider when you see websites claiming that it is easy to plan your own estate by simply filling in the blanks on a generic template document. These documents are not created in a jurisdiction-specific manner, and this can create potential difficulties at some point down the line.
And, few if any of us have generic cookie-cutter families so why would we be able to provide for our loved ones with a generic cookie-cutter document created by who knows whom from who knows where?
During the probate process the executor of the estate (sometimes called the personal representative) is charged with the hands-on tasking. In just about every case this individual is going to need the guidance of a probate attorney to help navigate the process. So it is logical to select your probate lawyer in advance and create your estate plan with his or her assistance from the start.
Estate planning is a legal matter that should be undertaken with professional guidance. If you are not currently prepared, right now would be a good time to pick up the phone to arrange for a consultation with a licensed and experienced northern Kentucky probate lawyer.
John’s practice focuses on the use of Wills and Living Trusts in Estate Planning to help individuals protect their families and preserve their legacies after their deaths, but his practice also focuses on the critical issues of protecting individuals with dementia or other diminished capacity, assisting individuals in qualifying for Medicaid and other government benefits to offset the costs of long-term care, and providing special needs planning.
John is admitted to practice law in North Carolina, South Carolina, Kentucky, and Ohio, and he is accredited by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
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