Estate plans can include documents such as Wills, Revocable Transfer on Death Deeds, trusts for tax planning purposes, trusts for minors, education trusts for grandchildren, Durable Powers of Attorney, and Advance Health Directives.
To begin the estate planning process, send an inquiry to Margaret. She will respond with intake and asset information forms for you to complete prior to a consultation.
Margaret helps clients make decisions about end of life care. She creates documents appointing decision makers in the event a client is incapacitated. These documents are called Durable Powers of Attorney. Margaret also drafts Advance Health Directives, sometimes referred to as “Living Wills.”
In your will, you will appoint a Personal Representative — the person who will administer your estate when you are gone. In your Durable Powers of Attorney, you will appoint an Attorney in Fact — someone to make decisions about your health care and your finances in the event you are incapacitated. Margaret asks clients to identify a primary Personal Representative and Attorney in Fact and at least one alternate. Many clients choose their spouse as the primary person and their children as alternates. Some clients choose close friends, trusted neighbors, nieces or nephews. Margaret also refers clients to professional fiduciary agencies, if desired.
Margaret has extensive experience drafting Special Needs Trusts. These trusts are created in a variety of circumstances, often to preserve assets while allowing a sick or disabled person to qualify for public assistance for health care or other long-term care. Assets in a Special Needs Trust are considered exempt and do not disqualify a person from receiving public benefits.
Margaret also assists families in settling the estates of their loved ones through a court process called a probate or through other “non-probate” procedures.