Our experience enables us to provide reliable and practical estate planning advice to people from all walks of life. We understand that it can be overwhelming to plan for the property and assets you have accumulated over a lifetime, and it can be difficult to think about how your children should be cared for should the worst happen.
Our goal is to help people to create a last will and testament in which they can feel confident and secure. Our office is capable of handling estates of all sizes and levels of complexity, creating clear and enforceable instructions that accurately convey our clients’ intentions .
The Law Offices of Nicholas L. Santoro, PLLC provides a full range of Estate Planning services. Our team Santoro offers legal services and consultations in a caring, professional and cost-effective way.
When it comes to planning for the distribution of wealth or assets upon death or incapacitation, it can be difficult and confusing to know what plan to follow: Should you make a will or set up a trust (and, if so, what kind)? And even if you have a will or a trust, how can you be sure it is designed well enough to carry out your wishes? Poorly designed wills and trusts, and insufficient planning can create a number of problems during hospitalization or after your death, making competent estate planning and strong wills and trusts a necessity. We can help you design the best plan for you.
A will is a legal document in which a person describes in detail how his or her money, real property and other assets will be distributed when the person passes away. The will usually also names a personal representative, the individual who will administer the will when the time comes.
A proper will must follow fundamental requirements for probate in your particular location and include disposition of your assets and payment of any obligations. Our team will provide specialized expertise in preparing your will.
A trust is another tool for making decisions regarding how your property will be distributed when you die. There are a number of different types of trusts, which are often used to reduce taxes, protect assets and provide for loved ones. Trusts can be used along with a will and other tools to create a comprehensive estate plan including a plan to avoid probate. Examples of trusts include, but are not limited to, testamentary trusts, living or revocable trusts, irrevocable trusts, Medicaid qualified trusts, and pour-over wills.
Our team will evaluate your specific needs and estate planning goals and will help you decide whether or not you need a trust, and if so, ensure that the appropriate trust is created for you.
You can use a power of attorney to legally authorize another person to handle your financial affairs during your lifetime if you become incapacitated or are otherwise unable to do so.
This is similar to a power of attorney, except it is only for health care decisions. The proxy appoints someone that will make those decisions for you in the event that you are not able to make the decisions yourself.
This legal tool is used to make end-of-life decisions about health care in the event that you become incapacitated. Although it can be difficult to have to think about these kinds of situations, planning ahead will guide your loved ones and ensure that your wishes are carried out avoiding any uncertainty among your family members or medical care providers.
