The practice of law is a profession, not a business.
 
This commitment is especially important when planning for what happens after you a die. These are not topics that most people find no comfort in considering, but the experienced attorneys at Croslis & Brennan Law Offices will guide you through each step of this difficult and highly personal process.
 
None of us likes thinking about "what if," but we can't afford not to. At Croslis & Brennan we answer those “what if” questions and keep them from becoming tomorrows “why didn’t I” questions.
 
For your convenience, we also meet clients in our office, in your home or care facility.
 
Why you Should Consider Advanced Planning
Advanced Planning is the process whereby a person develops a plan and prepares documents to conserve, protect, and distribute estate assets before and after death for the benefit of loved ones and charities, taking into consideration the effect of state and federal tax and administrative laws and regulations. It can also involve planning for the use of your assets for your care if you become unable to manage your affairs during your lifetime.
 
If you own a home, have some savings, or own any goods such as a car or furniture, then you have an estate. Planning for the future will affect the financial security of those you love. If you don't plan for what happens to your estate upon your death, the government will make those decisions for you.
 
You should have an advanced plan if:

• you care about who inherits your property;
• you care about your health care treatment;
• you are the parent of minor or disabled children; and/or
• you want to avoid the public proceedings of a possible guardianship and/or probate.

Wills, Trusts and Estates

Our team of service providers believe in comprehensive planning and individualized advanced planning to protect you and your loved ones.  We work to provide you peace of mind, so you can enjoy the fruits your labor now and later in life. A few simple estate planning documents can make that peace of mind a reality for you and your family:
 
Last Will and Testament - A legal document in which you name the person (or people) who will manage your estate and inherit your property after your death.
 
General Power of Attorney - A document that allows you to appoint another person to act on your behalf in a variety of situations when you are not available to do so (such as when traveling or incapacitated).
 
Durable Power of Attorney - A power of attorney document that stays in effect even if you become mentally incompetent.
 
Health Care Power of Attorney - Allows you to appoint someone to make medical decisions for you on your behalf in the event you become incapacitated.
 
Advance Health Care Directive  or “Living Will” - Your legally enforceable instructions specifying what medical treatments should or should not be performed in the event you become unable to express your wishes due to illness or incapacity.
 
Guardianship - A provision (usually in your Will) naming the person (or people) who will have legal custody of your minor child (or children) in the event you die or become unable to care for them.
 
Special Needs Trusts - A provision (usually in your Will) designed to protect property that you have set aside for the benefit of beneficiaries who are disabled or mentally ill. Special Needs Trusts are essential estate planning devices for anyone who cares for someone who is physically or mentally impaired, especially those who receive government benefits, such as Medicaid or Medicare (Social Security).

Business Succession Planning

In addition to estate planning services, we offer business owners the following specific services:

• Planning for management succession and asset conservation through multiple generations at a minimum tax cost
• Assisting business owners in allocating benefits among their children regardless of their involvement in the business
• Counseling on the short- and long-term estate implications of selling a business or restructuring it
• Counseling on recapitalizations, gift programs and other techniques for shifting value during an owner's lifetime or separating control from value
• Developing and implementing exit strategies from the business for inactive family members
• Planning for liquidity in the event of an owner's death
• Preparing buy/sell, restrictive stock and employment agreements
• Structuring life insurance and benefit programs to minimize tax costs

Estate Planning for Same-Sex and Unmarried Couples

We look forward to the day when same-sex couples will be able to enjoy all of the benefits and protections of marriage. Until then, we advise and assist all of our clients who cannot marry, or who choose not to marry, to ensure that their rights are protected in every way possible using a variety of estate planning devices.

How the Process Works

To achieve a client's estate planning objectives, we have an Initial Conference to make recommendations based on a comprehensive review of an individual's assets and general situation, and the personal goals of our clients. We will analyze your estate, including your business organization and financing structures and learn about you and your family. Next, we will help you define your estate planning objectives and provide you with the most effective means of achieving those objectives, including prudent tax planning and asset protection planning.
 
Several weeks after the Initial Conference, you will receive drafts of your estate plan documents. At this time, we will have a telephone conference to review your documents in detail, explaining what each document does for you and how your documents interact with each other. You will then make an appointment to return to our office to have your “Signing Ceremony.” Once signed, we will provide you with your original estate planning documents and an “Estate Planning Portfolio”. This portfolio not only contains a copy of all of your estate plan documents which we prepared for you, but also vital, important information for you and your family’s use.
 
We will then assist you with a very important aspect of your estate planning, the “Funding Phase”, to ensure your estate plan works for you. The Funding Phase is the process of transferring assets to your Revocable Living Trust.
 
We are then available for any further consult and questions you might have, immediately or long after our work.