Estate Planning Lawyer King of Prussia, PA

Nobody ever looks forward to the time when they have to start thinking about their mortality. Passing on is a part of life, but planning for your departure may not be the most simple task. An estate planning lawyer King of Prussia, PA residents rely on, like at Klenk Law, can help guide you through the basics of estate planning to help make things a little easier.

Most people are unprepared.

It is estimated that only up to one-half of Americans have written a will. As unpleasant as the task may feel, writing an estate plan can help ensure your loved ones receive a part of your legacy and that your wishes are carried out. Working with an estate planning lawyer in King of Prussia, PA can help prevent your family members from frustration and confusion if they have to handle your remaining assets on their own. Thinking about the estate legalities is the last thing your family will want to do during their grieving period.

Estate Planning Lawyer King of Prussia Explains:

We all know that at some point in our life we need to create a will. A will is an important document. By having working with an estate planning lawyer King of Prussia, PA trusts and preparing a will, it means that you get to dictate where your property goes or who is the guardian of your children, instead of the state. Everyone can agree that wills are crucial document to have, but many of us aren’t sure how to write it. In this post, we’ll walk you through some basic information on how to write a will and what things you should think about including.

What goes in a will?

The definition of a will is a legal document where the person states who they want managing their estate and how they want their personal property to be distributed after their death. While it may sound like something morbid to write, you would hate to be in a situation where you died suddenly and left your children and family members fighting with the state over your possessions.

Most people will update their will multiple times throughout their lifetime due to life events and changes. However, when getting started, there are some basic things you should include in your will.  Working with an estate planning lawyer in King of Prussia, PA can help you get started on the right track.

• Name the person you want executing your will.
• List the names of the people you’d like to be the legal guardians of your minor children.
• Distribute your assets and property.
• Don’t forget to include care for your pets.

What does not go in a will?

There are also some things you shouldn’t include in a will. Don’t put conditions on your gifts i.e. I am giving this much money to my daughter if she gets married. It’s not fair to the recipient and it could hurt your legacy. Also, don’t leave property to your pets. It only makes things more complicated for your family members trying to deal with your estate.

Writing Your Will

Now that you know what you should put in your will, you can start writing it. There are several templates that you can use to help you write a will. You can use a will book or software built specifically to write wills, or you can find a form online to fill out. The bottom line is that your will needs to be a document that is formal and typed up.

Once you’ve settled on a template and have written the contents of your will, you need to make it legal. In order to make a will legal, first, you need to sign it. Signing the will makes this a legal document. However, just signing it yourself does not make it a binding will. You need to also have two witnesses sign your will. Many states also require a notary.

Do it yourself?

While it’s possible to write a will yourself, if you are at all worried about the format or legalizing your will, you can always reach out to an estate planning lawyer in King of Prussia, PA, who can help guide you through the process.

In Conclusion: Estate Planning Lawyer King of Prussia.

Now you have everything you need to start writing that first will. By writing a will, you’ll have peace of mind knowing that your family and assets are taken care of in case something happens to you. Learn about Why Do People Avoid Creating a Will?

Understanding Why an Estate Plan Is So Crucial

A will is a written statement on how you want your assets to be divided amongst your loved ones after you pass away. If you were to die without a will in place, the state then decides what family members get. Your wishes are disregarded. Set up a plan that reflects your wishes or you can leave it up to the courts.

Start a List

Begin thinking about your estate plan by brainstorming. Get a pen and paper and jot down the names of those closest to you, in addition to a list of all your assets. A King of Prussia, PA estate planning lawyer may also advise you to include names of people who you want to exclude from receiving any portion of your remaining assets.  Good preparation can help make sure these people will not be able to contest your will in court. You may want to ask yourself and answer the following questions:

• Who do you want to inherit your treasures?
• Where should your financial assets pass?
• Who do you trust to take care of your children in the event you pass away while they are underage?
• Who do you want to be responsible for performing the duties listed in your will?
• If you were to become incapacitated, who do you think would make decisions about medical care that are in your best interests?

Update Your Will as Time Goes On

Once you have finished your will with the help of a King of Prussia, PA estate planning lawyer at Klenk Law, you will want to revisit and revise your estate plan periodically.  Life events bring change. A baby’s birth, remarriage, divorce, or other changes that may occur. Life changes trigger the need for revisions. Talk with your beneficiaries about their inheritance, so they are generally aware of what your plan. Talking about these things openly with your loved ones now prevents significant future disputes.

Please reach out today to receive a free consultation with an estate planning lawyer King of Prussia, PA clients trust at Klenk Law about your estate plan.

What Happens If I Die Without a Will?

If you or a loved one dies without a will, it is called dying “intestate.” Your property and assets will be divided amongst your heirs according to a fixed formula determined by the laws of the state in which you live. In other words, if you do not make a will, the inheritance statute defines who gets your assets. The inheritance statute contains a structured and rigid formula. The rules include no consideration or exceptions for anyone other than those who are named in the law.

More about dying intestate

When there is no will in place, the probate court appoints a personal representative. This person could be known or unknown to you. So a stranger may manage your entire estate. The cost involved with probate might be higher than if you had created a will.  Further, the management of your estate may be subject to more court supervision.

If you have specific wishes about your property and assets, don’t let the intestacy laws divided your assets. By enlisting the assistance of an estate planning lawyer in King of Prussia, PA, your estate can be distributed in the way you wish. At Klenk Law, we understand the sensitivity and delicacy of creating plans for your estate. We aim to make this as comfortable as possible for you.  Don’t end up having your estate subjected to the formula outlined in your state’s inheritance statute law.

Dying intestate could make it more difficult for your loved ones

As a King of Prussia, PA estate planning lawyer can explain, your loved ones can be burdened if you die without a will. Their loss of you is distressing enough, why compound the stress with concern about how assets and managing final affairs? It can be tense and traumatic. Passing without a will can cause other issues to arise, such as delays due to the probate process.

In truth, a will plans for more than just your assets. It also provides your loved ones with a clear direction concerning how you would like your estate distributed.  Wills can outline your funeral instructions and who will fulfill guardianship over your children. Without no will in place, it is left to someone else to make these decisions. Judges usually appoint an executor, and the court will decide the best way to settle your estate.

How to Talk to Your Kids About Your Will

Once you know the importance of estate planning, it’s time to consider how you’d like to divide your assets. An estate planning lawyer in King of Prussia, PA can help you format your will and make sure all your assets are accurately represented, but discussing the matter with your children can be a different beast entirely. If you need a little help, an estate planning lawyer at Klenek Law can help you navigate the discussion. 

Don’t Wait

Before you get your estate planning lawyer in King of Prussia, PA to write up your will, you should have a frank discussion with your children to establish expectations as soon as possible. If you wait to discuss your will with them, they may feel slighted, or like you’re trying to cheat them out of their inheritance without their input. At the very least, you should mention that you’re discussing your estate planning and that a more in-depth conversation will follow. 

Talk One-on-One

If you have more than one child, it may be a good idea to talk to them one-on-one before you have a group discussion. You can get an idea of their individual expectations, they can ask questions they may not want to ask in front of their siblings, and you can discuss which of your assets are up for discussion. This talk is absolutely essential if one sibling is going to be inheriting more than the others. It’s better to explain why, in person, than to have someone find out after the fact.

Be Honest

An estate planning lawyer in King of Prussia, PA can likely think of many reasons why a parent would leave more of their assets to one child, or not leave all of their assets solely to your children. You may want to donate to your favorite charity, or maybe one of your children will need more money to uphold a certain quality of life, and that simply isn’t an issue for their siblings. If you can have an honest conversation about why you’re dividing your assets the way you are, you can avoid nasty arguments later.

While an estate planning lawyer in King of Prussia, PA can help you organize a will, the communication is often left for families to handle alone. Lawyers at Klenek Law can give you more tips on discussing your will with your family to help make estate planning a breeze.

 3 Convenient Ways an Estate Planning Lawyer Can Help You Prepare for Your Departure

There are many ways an estate planning lawyer in King of Prussia, PA can make estate planning easier, but many individuals don’t know the first step. The lawyers at Klenek Law can help you prepare your will, but there are many other steps to help make your executor’s life easier after you pass. Here are three things you may not have thought of. 

1. Reducing Tax Liabilities 

If you’ve got a large number of assets, it can be difficult to keep them organized. The last thing you want after your pass is for your kids to have to learn about all the taxes they’ll have to pay to inherit your property. The right estate planning lawyer in King of Prussia, PA can help you figure out the actual value of your estate and any deductions you’ll be eligible for.

2. Avoiding the Probate Process

If you don’t see an estate planning lawyer to create your will, there may be issues that disrupt the process after you pass. Your children may decide to go to court over the transferral of the estate to ultimately decide who gets what. This process is not cheap, quick, or private. Not only can this reflect poorly on your memory as your loved ones try to grieve, but it can be actively harmful to those you leave behind. Some individuals forgo the will and try to designate their assets with other documents, like a Small Estate Affidavit, but these are often easily disputed and your children may go to court anyway.

3. Making Regular Updates

Having a will written up doesn’t mean that nothing will change going forward. In fact, neglecting to update your will can cause even more problems down the road. An estate planning lawyer in King of Prussia, PA can help you any time you gain a new asset or need to make another change. For example, some grandparents are suddenly tasked with raising their grandchildren, or they discover new health conditions that may require more treatment and money than they originally planned for. Updating your will can make sure it’s always ready to serve your family’s needs.

Your will is an important document that you can use to make sure your wishes are met, but lawyers at Klenek Law can also help you make sure certain scenarios don’t happen. When you trust the right lawyer, you can learn about and avoid many of the common issues with estate planning.

Why and How to Disinherit Someone

1. You’re Estranged from Your Children

The reason most commonly associated with disinheritance is estrangement. Whatever the reason may be, if you do not have a relationship with your children, it makes sense to disinherit them. You want to leave your estate to the loved ones who are in your life.

2. You’re Separated from Your Spouse

Divorce is a common reason to write someone out of your will. Disinheriting a former spouse is of vital importance, especially if you get remarried. By law, both spouses would be entitled to a portion of your estate unless you explicitly disinherited your ex. This kind of snafu can result in your loved ones not receiving the full portion of the estate you intended for them. If you have recently divorced, make sure to prioritize speaking with an estate planning lawyer in King of Prussia, PA to ensure your affairs are in order.

3. You’ve Already Gifted Funds

You may choose to disinherit a relative upon the agreement that you’ve loaned or gifted their inheritance to them already. For example, you may agree to help your child put a deposit on a house by using their portion of the inheritance to cover the cost.

4. You’ve had a Life-Changing Event

Sometimes life happens, and your circumstances may change due to the impact of certain events. For example, a serious medical diagnosis in the family may impact your estate. Disinheriting some relatives may allow you to allocate more support to a relative who needs it. Klenk Law will help you rework your will to ensure your loved ones are taken care of.

As you can see, disinheritance happens more than you may think; but how do you disinherit someone?

1. Disinheriting Children

Only adult children may be disinherited, minor children are protected by law. To disinherit an adult child you must submit the reason for disinheritance to your estate planning lawyer in King of Prussia, PA in writing. Omitting their name from the will is not enough to legally disinherit a child. Most courts will treat it as an error and award the child a portion of the estate.

2. Disinheriting a Spouse

Disinheriting a spouse is a little more complex. You must determine what they can be disinherited from, if you hold community property, alimony and other contributing factors. Klenk Law can help you determine what your spouse is entitled to, and how to proceed with disinheritance.

3. Disinheriting Parents

Parents are not usually entitled to your estate, but if you are single and have no kids, they could legally be next of kin. Explicitly disinheriting your parents in your will can prevent them from benefiting from your estate.

Hiring an estate planning lawyer in King of Prussia, PA to handle your will creation can ensure your last wishes are followed

Why let someone else who is appointed by a court make these crucial decisions? A will allows you to make your loved ones aware of your final wishes and can ensure that they are followed according to your intentions. An estate planning lawyer King of Prussia, PA clients recommend from Klenk Law can help with the creation of your will as so that your last wishes are clear, calculated, and can be carried out to the letter. Plus, we’ll do our best to make the process as quick and painless as possible. Schedule a consultation with one of our legal professionals today.