Schedule a free consultation with Seaton Law Group today
Schedule a free consultation with Seaton Law Group today
Estate Planning/Wills & Trusts
Protect your loved ones & safeguard assets
Most people want to put off thinking about what might happen in the event of their incapacitation or untimely death. What will your spouse or children do? Who will make decisions on your behalf? How will your assets be protected? These issues can be addressed by establishing a comprehensive estate plan. You’ll find that you can breathe easier knowing that your family and assets will be taken care of. The attorneys at Seaton Law Group are highly experienced in this area and will assist you in the counseling, drafting, and execution of a carefully-considered estate plan that will protect your loved ones and safeguard your assets at an affordable price.
The core of your estate plan consists of various documents meant to document your wishes, including:
Revocable Living Trust
This document allows you to transfer your assets to your family members and other designees, but has a number of other benefits not included in a mere will. It dictates which property and assets are transferred so that they pass to designated beneficiaries, by operation of law, upon your death without the need for probate.
Last Will & Testament
A will instructs how a person’s assets will be distributed after they pass away. These documents must be validated during the probate process. Although we use a revocable living trust to avoid the need for probate, we always draft a will that covers any assets that are not included in the trust. This type of will is called a pour-over will.
Durable Power of Attorney (POA)
This document allows you to appoint someone to make personal and financial decisions on your behalf in the event of your incapacitation. Using a durable power of attorney allows the participants to avoid conservatorship, an expensive and complex process by which the court decides on a person to perform in this role.
Health Care Directives
These are documents drafted to instruct others on how to handle your health care in the event of your incapacitation. A durable POA is used to appoint someone to make healthcare decisions on your behalf if you cannot. A living will give specific instructions on your health care decisions to relatives and providers.
Trusts
Trusts are an arrangement where one party holds property on behalf of another party. There are many reasons for establishing trusts, including tax minimization or providing for the needs of underage beneficiaries. Types of estate-planning trusts include trusts for minors, marital trusts, special needs trusts, spendthrift trusts, and revocable living trusts.
Our Estate-Planning Process
At Seaton Law Group, we know how busy you are. While you know that you will need an estate plan at some point, you are challenged with juggling all the demands of work and family. Estate planning is not your top priority. To combat this, we make the estate planning process simple, easy, and convenient for you.
Our comprehensive method involves only two meetings.
Meeting One: Complimentary Consultation
We get to know you and your goals, and we will guide you through your estate planning process. Prior to this appointment, you will fill out a Client Information Form that will allow us to better assess your specific needs. We also discuss the range of fees on our trust packages so there are no hidden costs.
Meeting Two: Estate Plan Review
We will review your estate plan with you to ensure that you have a thorough understanding of your plan. The plan will be signed and notarized, and we will provide you with your estate planning documents. Finally, we will guide you through the process of funding your trust. Please allow an hour and a half for this meeting.
...And Beyond
After you leave our offices, you may need reminders and guidance on how to maintain your estate plan now that it is drafted. Once you become our client, we are always available to answer any questions you may have about your estate plan, free of charge. We will keep you informed of circumstances that may require changes to your trust, recent developments in the law, and important issues affecting your family and your finances.
“I have had the privilege of working with Barry on over 100 contracts. We needed a versatile attorney who understood product development, intellectual property rights, publishing and risk management. This was a very complex job that required flexibility and sound judgment. The cookie cutter approach would not have worked in this dynamic, ever changing environment. I would not hesitate to recommend Barry to any company involved in any aspect of the entertainment or games business.”
Mark Burke
VP, Alliance Metaversal Studios
Former SVP Worldwide Production & Business Development, Crave Entertainment Group