Estate Planning
Venice & Sarasota Estate Planning Attorney
The term “estate planning” refers to the comprehensive process of choosing how your property will be managed upon your incapacity (decided via a power of attorney, trust, or guardianship proceeding), who will receive your property upon your death (decided via a will or a trust), who will be responsible for making healthcare decisions for you decided via advanced healthcare directives, (i.e. healthcare proxy, living will, and possibly a DNR), and who presumptively will be responsible for the care of any minor children you leave behind (decided by court after consulting your will).
For those with small amounts of property and little in the way of obligations, the process is extremely simple and can usually be completed quickly and economically in one or two short sessions. For those with more substantial property or much in the way of obligations (i.e. minor children, multiple marriages, adult dependent children, complex objectives), the process is usually more involved. In all cases, Mr. Chiantella provides economical representation of the highest quality with careful attention paid to the documents and plans produced in order to give legal effect to your wishes.
At a minimum, everyone should have at least a will, a power of attorney, a healthcare proxy, a living will and a declaration naming preened guardian. This basic level of protection will ensure that your property is disposed of as you wish at your death, your children are cared for according to your wishes, your property affairs can be privately and cheaply managed prior to your death, a responsible person of your choice will make healthcare decisions for you in the event of your incapacity, your end of life wishes will be followed, and in case a guardian must be appointed for you due to incapacity, our courts will hear who you think should be responsible for you in the event of incapacity.
Incredibly 50% of all Americans pass without this basic level of protection in place. The results are typically disastrous financially and emotionally. You owe it to yourself and your family to make sure you are not among them.
Learn more about how Venice Estate Planning Attorney Michael A. Chiantella can help you plan for the future. Call 941-488-1779 or click here to contact us online now.