Estate Planning and Probate Law

Put Your Family in the Best Position With Estate Planning

Discussing the distant future can feel like tempting fate, but the peace of mind and financial benefits to your family in a time of great stress and grief are priceless. Work with Stearns & Hammer to develop a comprehensive estate plan including the wills, settlements, and trusts that will help provide for your family when you cannot.

Let Us Guide Your Family Through Probate

Once an estate meets certain financial requirements, probate is unavoidable - but that doesn't mean its effects can't be minimized! One simple strategy is to move assets into a living trust with your family as beneficiaries. Discuss living trusts and other probate options with our experienced attorney today!

Make the Right Choices Today to Protect Tomorrow

Wills

A living will provides an outline for your trusts, but your estate plan is much more than just your will.

Settlements

A settlement is the most desirable outcome to an estate dispute. You can avoid a costly and painful trial by settling these issues out of court.

Living Trusts

This is a trust arrangement where the trustee holds the legal title to the property of the beneficiary. Living trusts help you avoid probate, reduce estate taxes and set up long-term property management.

Probate

Probate is the legal process of administering the estate of a person who has passed, resolving all claims, and distributing the deceased person's property.

Let us help you sort through the legal complications after the passing of a loved one.

Durable Powers of Attorney

This provision allows the attorney-in-fact to retain authority to act on behalf of the grantor until the grantor's death.

Health Care Powers of Attorney and Living Wills

You can put your health care wishes in writing, in case you should ever be incapacitated and unable to speak for yourself, under a durable power of attorney.