Wills/Trusts
Wills and trusts are estate planning tools that give you control over how and when your assets and property are handled, both while you are alive and when you die.
You already have an estate plan, whether you know it or not. If you pass away without a will or trust, the State of Idaho has a plan for how your assets will be handled. See here:
www.legislature.idaho.gov/idstat/Title15/T15CH2.htm
You can either stick with this plan in which you had no input, or you can decide for yourself where you want your assets to go. More importantly, if you have young children, you owe it to them to provide for a guardian who will care for them.
How is your family provided for now? Presumably, you use your best judgment to make daily decisions that shape their lives.
What happens when you are gone, or are incapacitated? If you have not left clear directions then others will use their judgment to decide what is best for your family and loved ones.
Perhaps worse than having the State or others decide these extremely important matters, we've seen families torn apart fighting over what should be done with a departed loved one's children and assets.
Take the time now to come in to our office to discuss these issues and provide clear directions for your family if or when you leave them. It will give you piece of mind knowing your best judgment and decisions will survive to provide for your family in the unfortunate event that you pass away.
Probate
Probate is the process of will settlement. When someone who has executed a will dies, the process of carrying out the instructions in the will and otherwise settling the deceased person's affairs is done in the courts through probate.
If you have any questions about the probate process we can answer those questions and advise you in the probate process. Just contact us at info@idaholawgroup.com