You may have thought that an estate planning attorney is only for the rich and famous but the reality is that everyone has an estate.
Everything you own (cars, houses, bank accounts and material possessions) comprise your estate.
The goal of our estate planning attorney in West Palm Beach is to eliminate any uncertainties over the administration of a probate (the legal process in which a Will is reviewed in a court of law) and to provide specific instructions that state who will receive what and when they are to receive it.
At McDonald Law Firm, our estate planning attorney in West Palm Beach will work closely with you to create a plan that fits your family’s unique needs and circumstances.
There are many different aspects to consider in estate planning and it can be somewhat confusing. Our team of estate planning attorneys in West Palm Beach strives to help you avoid the delay and costliness of probate and guardianship by putting a plan in place for your incapacity or death.
Our estate lawyer in West Palm Beach uses experience and education to create and prepare your estate plan, working closely with you to address your needs and concerns.
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How We Can Help
It is never too early to contact an estate planning attorney to determine how your estate is going to be handled after you pass away. It is better to create a plan now with Marshall McDonald, estate lawyer in West Palm Beach and make changes later, rather than wait until it is too late. Knowing you have a plan in place that is in accordance with your wishes will give you and your family peace of mind.
Create your plan with an experienced, educated and seasoned estate planning attorney, West Palm Beach-based Marshall McDonald who has over 30 years of experience as an estate planning attorney, CPA, and elder law attorney.
Marshall will look at the big picture of your life and estate planning goals and work with you to create a plan that suits your needs.
Services Our Estate Planning Attorney Offers
Wills Attorney
Creating a Will is the most common aspect of estate planning. A Will provides specific instructions on how to distribute your assets after you pass away.
It’s important to note that assets that are titled in your name may have to go through probate before being distributed to your beneficiaries.
It also critically important that your asset titles be reviewed to ensure that the titles are consistent with the instructions in your Will or Trust.
For more information about wills and probate.
Asset Protection Trust Attorney
An Asset Protection Trust protects the trust beneficiary’s inheritance from claims made by that beneficiary’s creditors.
Special Needs Trust Attorney
A Special Needs Trust allows a disabled or chronically ill person to receive income without reducing their eligibility for public assistance disability benefits. This type of trust cannot be administered by the beneficiary and must be administered by a trustee or trustees.
Living Trust Attorney
A Living Trust, or a Revocable Trust, is a Trust that is created while the Trustmaker is still alive to hold the Trustmaker’s assets, which can be invested or spent as the Trustmaker sees fit.
If the Trustmaker becomes unable to manage the trust, or if the Trustmaker dies, the successor trustee takes over administration of the trust.
After the Trustmaker passes away, the successor trustee pays off any outstanding bills or taxes before distributing funds in accordance with the Trustmaker’s written directions.
There is no need for trust assets to be probated or to be subjected to guardianship proceedings, making the Living (Revocable) Trust a practical and popular option for estate planning.
People sometimes think that a Living Trust is necessary only if a person is very wealthy.
A Living Trust can be an excellent solution for people even of modest means who: are divorced and have minor children; have a child, grandchild or spouse with disabilities; want to plan for a grandchild’s education; are contemplating a second marriage; are single and want a plan in place in the event of their incapacity.
Enhanced Life Estate Deed Attorney
Also known as a Ladybird Deed, the enhanced life estate deed allows real property to pass directly to beneficiaries without going through probate.