In a world where technology speeds up and confuses everything, it is refreshing to actually sit down with a lawyer to get those estate planning essentials wrapped up in Susquehanna Township, Pennsylvania.
No one really wants ot sit down and deal with the inevitability or possibility of death. But when you do actually build up the courage to do so, the last thing you want is to be confronted by an automated online assistant with a meaningless set of options on a screen, unfortunately, for residents of all ages in Susquehanna, that can often feel like the only accessible option.
The (deceptive) simplicity of online options for estate planning sits in stark contrast with the higher cost, in time, effort, and money, of going to see an attorney. Many of these in Pennsylvania might be just as confusing or overwhelming as the online tools, but they might be even more effective at selling you tools and services you don't need.
That is not how things work at North Star Legal Services LLC. Located not far down the Susquehanna River, Tom McGlaughlin’s small firm embraces a third approach: where he comes to you, helps you understand your choices, and works with you to set up exactly (and only) the estate planning essentials you actually want and need. Why go looking for complicated solutions when simple ones can come right to your door?
Far too many families in Pennsylvania only find out that they do not have the right estate planning tools in place once it is too late to create them. Most estate planning is designed to kick in only if you pass away, or at the very least, become incapacitated. As a result, it is easy to put off, especially when you are young and carefree, or older and struggling with online estate planning tools.
However, estate planning does not need to be such an unpleasant or difficult experience. If you have been struggling to get started, are unsure what you need, or get stuck working with online tools, try a different approach. In Susquehanna Township, start your estate planning with a conversation.
Whether you drive on down to Tom McGlaughlin’s office, work entirely over the phone, or, like some of his most satisfied clients, host him for a brief consultation in your home, the estate planning process with this attorney always starts with a conversation. Simply sitting down to share your situation, constraints, goals, and objectives is often enough to help an attorney like Tom figure out what you need and start putting together the estate planning basics that will protect you, your legacy, and your loved ones.
It is never too early to get your estate planning essentials done, and if you are ever caught needing any of these and do not have them, either you, your assets, or your loved ones will pay the price.
It does not matter how humble your estate is; if you own anything, including debts and especially real estate, it will have to be handled administratively after your death. In Susquehanna Township, this means heading over to the Dauphin County Courthouse in Harrisburg to go through Probate.
The probate process is required to handle any assets and debts still in your name, but it is governed by your will. Without a will to provide instructions for the court to follow, your property will be passed on by “intestate” laws without you having any say or control in who gets what.
If you have a will, but it is not properly made, or has significant flaws, it might lead to legal challenges during probate, or even get thrown out or discarded entirely. This is why it is important to work with a skilled estate planning attorney to get your will done right.
Death is not the only unpleasant possibility you can anticipate as part of your estate planning. You can also become incapacitated and unable to make decisions. Such a situation can be temporary, such as due to a severe accident, or permanent, for example, because of deteriorating mental health or dementia.
When either happens, your loved ones will have to go to court to get the right to help make financial or medical decisions on your behalf…unless you have already assigned powers of attorney. These documents allow you to empower trusted relatives or loved ones with the rights to handle assets or medical decisions. They do not, however, force them to make particular decisions, so you need to be able to trust them and communicate more precise medical preferences through a different document.
When you want to exert control over healthcare decisions and provide instructions for your doctors or loved ones, you need an advanced healthcare directive (sometimes called a living will). This relatively simple document outlines your decisions for such delicate topics as end-of-life care, life support use, and more.
Without such a document, doctors may make choices you would not approve of, or worse, family members could end up fighting over your fate and how to handle drastic medical decisions. If your spouse claims to know your preference, and your children claim another, it is best if you have outlined and signed a document that avoids that fight entirely.
North Star Legal Services LLC| Estate planning lawyer ready to come to your home in Susquehanna Township or beyond to ensure you finally get those estate planning documents done correctly from the start.
Have you sat down with an attorney to get your estate planning done yet? Are all your documents in order and up to date? Are you hesitant to start your estate plan because it seems confusing, overwhelming, or unnecessary?
Stop worrying and get the essentials done correctly, perhaps even from the comfort of your home, by reaching out to estate planning lawyer Tom McGlaughlin at North Star Legal Services LLC just down the road from Susquehanna Township and Harrisburg.
Set up a free consultation by calling (717) 990-7178 or by reaching out to our estate planning team online.
The information you obtain at this site is not, nor is it intended to be, legal advice. You should consult an attorney for advice regarding your individual situation. Contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship.
