DO I NEED AN ESTATE PLAN?

A proper estate plan helps ensure that your wishes are carried out and that your assets pass to your intended beneficiaries in the most efficient and least costly manner available. Hospitals and other institutions (banks, nursing homes, etc.) require powers of attorney to make decisions for an incapacitated person and act on that person's behalf.

If you're like most people, you hear about estate plans, know that you probably need one, but haven't gotten around to looking into your options. The most common excuses include:

"I don't have enough property to warrant an estate plan."

"My family knows what I want done with my property when I die, so I don't need an estate plan."

"Thinking about my death is just creepy."

These reasons, and many others, get in the way of investigating one's need for an estate plan, and can cause much misery to a person's family and friends when someone dies (or just becomes incapacitated) without a proper estate plan.

Probate of your estate is an extremely time-consuming and expensive process, taking many months and thousands of dollars in attorney fees, costs and other administration fees. If you wish to discuss your estate planning needs and options, please feel free to contact the Law Offices of Ian S. Topf.