I get to meet and talk with many fascinating people. And even better than that, I get to help them create a plan to preserve their legacy.
Merriam-Webster defines “legacy” as “something transmitted by or received from an ancestor or predecessor or from the past.” The dictionary has a second definition as “a gift by will especially of money or other personal property.” And when doing a proper and comprehensive estate plan, both definitions need to be addressed.
As to the first, giving “something”, means to me the giving of the family history, the giving of sentiment and the giving of yourself. Much of this is done throughout life – all those lessons you have taught your children and grandchildren about right and wrong and about how to become a better person. But it should not end there. These lessons, along with those little mementos should be a part of your estate plan. We make sure we spend time discussing these things with our clients so they know the importance and the impact of these things to the family.
The second meaning, the giving of assets (money & property), is the more traditional meaning when it comes to estate planning. Many of our clients want to be able to leave some of their hard earned assets to their family members and loved ones. But we help our clients go beyond just leaving these assets to their families.
We help create a plan to give the inherited assets protections against the outside world. Create a way to be able to allow the family member to enjoy what was left to him, but to limit the access of government and law suits and other creditors. We help our clients ensure that their legacy is left to and enjoyed by the people that they have chosen, and nobody else.
Let us help you create a plan so that your legacy can be used and enjoyed by your loved ones. Make an appointment today, and meet with one of our attorneys so we can help build your estate plan, or should I say, legacy plan!
Contributed by MH Estate Planning Attorney James P. Plitz.
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, power of attorneys, 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, ensuring that everything works perfectly for your needs and situation. Our Arizona offices are located in Phoenix, Mesa, Scottsdale, Cave Creek, Tucson, Prescott, Flagstaff and Arrowhead. Contact us today at 888.222.1328 to schedule an appointment!
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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