Our process begins with a Family Wealth Planning Session. Before the Session you will complete homework that will have you feeling more organized and put together than you have in a long time. Maybe ever.

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During the Session, we will look at what would happen to all of what you have and everyone you love, if anything were to happen to you.

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Then, we’ll determine a plan together to make sure everything goes the way you want it to so you are always in control. Also, so that your family always knows just how much you care.

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Should we decide there are things we can do to take care of your family better than they are taken care of now, we will present you with planning options that allow you to decide on your fee and the level of service that is right for you and your family.

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If you are a parent of minor children (or those with special needs) who are counting on you, your estate plan must begin with ensuring your children would always be taken care of by the people you want, in the way you want, no matter what happens.

 

At Wright Law, one of my things to do is planning for the well-being and care of the children you love.

 

Without advance legal planning for the care of your children, if the unthinkable happens to you, here’s what could happen:

 

• Your children could be placed into the care of the Office of Children’s Services (yes, even if you have a will in place and even if you have a living trust) and, yes, it would very likely only be temporary, but trust me, you never want your children in the arms of strangers.  Not even for a minute.

• Your children could be put into the custody and care of someone you would never want, like that one family member who has good intentions, but you’d never want raising your kids.

• A judge who doesn’t know you, or your family, will decide who will raise your kids, even if it’s the last person you would ever want;

• Your family could get into a long, drawn out custody fight or there could be a challenge to the guardians you have designated;

• Up to 5% of the value of your assets could be lost to court costs and other unnecessary fees through the probate process, a court process that can tie up your assets for years and deprive your kids of the resources they need to live comfortably, which can totally be avoided with advance legal planning;

• When your kids turn 18, they get a check for whatever assets are left;

• There are unscrupulous people out there who make it their business to look at the public records to find out when 18 year olds are getting that inheritance check;

• The vast majority of estate planning attorneys do not address these issues, and do not plan from a parent’s perspective.

 

Yes, these things scare me too. That’s why I offer a Kids Protection Plan with every estate plan I do for families with young children.

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