Estate Planning

At Carpenter & Guy, we know estate planning isn’t an easy topic to approach. Whether your estate is large or small, we can assist you with all your estate planning needs. A well-crafted Estate Plan and Will are essential to accurately state your intentions and provide clear instructions on how to carry out your desires for your property, assets, and heirs in the event of your death.

The preparation of estate planning documents encompasses all documents concerning your end of life choices. We work with our clients, their financial planners, and business advisers to assure that your estate plan functions as intended. In the unfortunate event that you suffer from a prolonged illness, there are documents which direct your family or friends as to how you would like difficult decisions made on your behalf.

Power of Attorney authorizes your relatives or friends make medical and financial decisions in the event you are incapacitated.
Health Care Power of Attorney and a Living Will provides directives concerning difficult medical and end of life decisions to allow your family the peace of mind they need to focus on you and each other.

Financial Durable Power of Attorney appoints an individual to handle your day-to-day financial affairs in the event that you are unable to. Again, giving security to both you and your loved ones. 

A Will ensures that after you are gone your assets are distributed the way you want them to be; this can include anything from your home and cars, to heirlooms and jewelry.

A Living Trust provides your family with additional protection, and can also protect your estate from much of the probate process. Additionally, a Trust can help your heirs avoid unnecessary taxes, safeguarding their inheritances.

Also, In the event you pass away before a minor child in your custody reaches maturity, we can derive a plan that decides who cares for your minor children.

All of these documents assist in ensuring peace of mind for you in knowing your directives are being followed and that your loved ones are taken care of. In the event of a contest to your estate plan we will defend your directives while making every effort to reduce conflict. When it comes to the probate of your estate we are experienced and knowledgeable litigators.

Agatha Guy, the Estate Planning attorney at Carpenter & Guy serves families and individuals at all stages of life to plan for the future and ensure protection of assets.

Elder Law and Medicare Planning

Planning for end-life matters is becoming more important than ever. Our lives are longer. As a culture we are accumulating more, and requiring more to compensate for changing life-expectancies. At Carpenter & Guy, our Elder Care and Medicare Lawyers can help ensure you have considered all the fine points.

In 2014, the average annual nursing home cost was approximately $81,000. It is expected that this cost will rise approximately 4.5% per year in the foreseeable future. A recent study conducted by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services found that 70% of senior citizens will require some type of long term care during their lives. Long term care is not limited to nursing home care, but also can include residential care, health aide services and hospice care.

Elder Law, unlike most subspecialties of law, is defined by the group of people it serves. Each experience with us is catered uniquely to protecting your assets and planning your Medicare services needs. At Carpenter & Guy, our attorneys provide comprehensive legal services to seniors and their families to assist throughout this transitional period.

We know it is frustrating to work with government agencies on issues such as Social Security, Veterans Benefits, and Medicare. In addition to navigating the health industry and choosing long term health facilities, families are often faced with guardianship. Our team of legal professionals will provide you and your family guidance, protection, and peace of mind to ensure the last years of your life are what you envisioned them to be.

Our Elder Services include:

• Estate Planning
• Guardianship/Capacity issues
• Trusts
• Asset Protection and Distribution
• Medicare Planning
• Health Directives
• Social Security
• Veteran Benefits
• Choosing a long term health facility
• Nursing home and assisted living litigation
• Adult Protective Services matters
• End of life decisions
• Powers of Attorney
• Asset protection planning

If you or a loved one are facing the need for long term care, or if you are taking a forward-thinking approach and planning ahead, the Estate Planning and Elder Law attorneys at Carpenter & Guy can make the process less daunting. Call today to schedule your consultation.

Probate, Estate, & Trust Administration

When a loved one passes, the process of administering the estate is often unfamiliar to surviving family members and can be daunting. Our Probate, Trust and Estate Planning attorneys guide executors though the challenges and particulars of an estate or trust administration. We work with family members, coordinate with accountants and other advisers to provide for a smooth transition. We are experienced in all aspects of estate administration, including the following:

• Estate, trust and probate administration
• Family conflict avoidance
• Inheritance
• Probate and trust litigation