In the past few weeks, I have spoken at funerals for three of my good friends. One was 94 and anxious to move on to see her long-deceased husband and daughter. One was 63 and anxious for relief from the awful pain of his cancer, but very sorry not to see the fruition of his many hopes and dreams. One was only 27 and had probably never considered dying at such a young age.
These and other friends had completed different levels of estate planning. Those who had proper health care documents – living will, health care power of attorney and HIPAA authorization to release medical information to family members – made their passing much easier for their survivors.
The friends who had created a living trust, pour-over will and related estate planning documents have left much more to their surviving spouse and children. Probate courts and attorneys are not involved in settling their financial matters; guardians for children are securely in place; they have avoided the extra income taxes, capital gains taxes, and estate taxes that now arise at death. And they did not have to spend all their assets to pay for long-term care.
I do estate planning because I want to help friends and clients (who become good friends) live with peace and security; I want them to pass peacefully and help their survivors, financially and emotionally in this most difficult transition. To me, this is the greatest gift you can give to your family and other loved ones. I am grateful to be able to be a part of it and experience the peace and security it brings to family and friends after their loved one has passed on.
About Morris Hall:
At Morris Hall, we have focused our legal practice on estate planning for over 40 years. Along with estate planning, our attorneys help clients and their families with matters of probate, trust administration, wills, powers of attorney, business planning, succession planning, legacy planning, charitable gifting and other important legal aspects. We also have divisions in financial, real estate and accounting to help you incorporate all of your planning together, insuring that everything works perfectly for your needs and situation. Our Arizona offices are located in Phoenix, Mesa, Scottsdale, Tucson, Prescott, Flagstaff and Arrowhead. Contact us today at 888.222.1328 to schedule an appointment!
Contributed by MH attorney Theron M. Hall, Jr.
This blog should be used for informational purposes only. It does not create an attorney-client relationship with any reader and should not be construed as legal advice. If you need legal advice, please contact an attorney in your community who can assess the specifics of your situation.
This blog should be used for informational purposes only. It does not create an attorney-client relationship with any reader and should not be construed as legal advice. If you need legal advice, please contact an attorney in your community who can assess the specifics of your situation.
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