Protect your future and your assets by creating a will.
A legal document that outlines your wishes regarding the care of any minor children and the distribution of your property, a will is an essential part of the estate planning process. If you pass away without a will, your wishes may not be realized. Additionally, your heirs will have to spend time, money, and emotional energy trying to effectively settle your affairs once you pass on unless there is a will to provide guidance.
At GPS Law Group, we help people throughout the Charlotte, North Carolina area develop and solidify wills as part of the estate planning process. Know that wills are not just for people in retirement, but for everyone of any age within adulthood. Even if you believe you do not have any assets, if you own any type of property or have children, letting us help you devise a will is imperative to your peace of mind, the future of your children, and the proper division of your estate
Although wills generally can address the bulk of your assets, they are not foolproof documents that cover all of your estate planning needs. When you come into our office for help creating a will, we can introduce you to other documents that can help you establish a comprehensive estate plan for the sake of protecting your wishes and interests in full.
If you have any questions about wills or estate planning, our firm is here to provide trusted guidance. Contact us at GPS Law Group today to set up your first consultation.
Wills and Estate Attorney in North Carolina
It may be difficult to contemplate our deaths or to think about the possibility of becoming incapacitated. These ideas are not in the day-to-day thinking of regular, happy people.
However, creating a plan for these situations is vitally important to ensure that your estate is distributed according to your wishes and that those closest to you receive the support and security you have worked so hard to provide them.
The only way to ensure that your wishes for your estate are heard, respected, and followed by your death is to create a will that explicitly states how your assets are supposed to be divided. A will also allow you to nominate a guardian for any minor children after your death, and it allows you to name an executor of the will, meaning a person you trust to make sure the will is followed by your wishes.
A will is a legally binding document or oral statement (allowed in limited circumstances) that establishes an individual’s after-death plans for their property and affairs. North Carolina will laws are very similar to will laws in other states, but (unlike many states) also allow holographic or handwritten wills.
With the help of an experienced and knowledgeable attorney from GPS Law Group, you will be able to craft a lasting will that most accurately reflects your wishes for your estate following your death. Reach out to GPS Law Group attorneys today.
Estate Planning in North Carolina
Estate planning is a broad term that includes the creation of legal documents and structures that allow your wishes for your estate to be fulfilled even in your absence. One of the most common elements of estate planning is the last will, which specifies how you would like your estate to be divided and who will be the beneficiaries of that estate.
The reasons for creating an estate plan are numerous, such as:
- Ensure that your assets are transferred to the intended beneficiaries
- Avoid state law controlling who receives your property after your death
- Name a guardian for minor children
- Provide for the management of assets until a beneficiary reaches an appropriate age/maturity level
- Minimize the possibility of confusion and disagreement after death
- Name responsible parties to ensure that your wishes are carried out
- Reduce the financial burden on your family and friends by planning to minimize taxes and allow for the efficient administration of your estate
In addition, once created, it is important to review your estate plan periodically or when a significant life event occurs, such as a divorce, the birth of a child, or a significant change in financial circumstances. To schedule a consultation with an estate planning attorney, contact The GPS Law Group today.
Another type of estate planning that may be beneficial is a living will or advanced directive, which specifies your desires regarding medical decisions should you become incapacitated and unable to make those decisions for yourself when the need arises.
Trusts, such as a revocable living trust or an educational trust for your children, are other ways to plan for the management of your estate and your assets in the event of your incapacity or death. Remember that the creation of a trust does not exclude the need for a will. A will can specify the distribution of assets that may not be held in trust, and it can nominate a guardian for minor children.
Who Needs a Will
Any reasonable adult with assets to protect and people to support should consider making a will. A will is about much more than the division of a sizable estate, and making a will is not something that is for wealthy people alone.
If you die without a will, the state of North Carolina will determine how your assets are to be divided. In some cases, the laws of intestate succession will align with the wishes of the decedent, but that is purely coincidental.
The only way to ensure that those you love are provided for by your wishes, rather than a formula dictated by North Carolina law, is to create a legally binding will with the help of a wills attorney at GPS Law Group.
Contact a North Carolina Wills Lawyer Today
The best way to make a lasting will that accurately reflects your wishes for your estate and avoids complications in probate is to consult a wills attorney who understands North Carolina laws related to wills.
Protect Your Future and Assets by Creating a Will
If you pass away without a will, your wishes may not be realized. Additionally, your heirs will have to spend time, money, and emotional energy trying to effectively settle your affairs once you pass on unless there is a will to provide guidance.
A lawyer who has years of experience under their belt will be able to explain the intricacies and complexities of everyone’s specific case. Contact a GPS Law Group attorney to get started.
At GPS Law Group, we help people throughout the North Carolina area develop and formalize wills as part of the estate planning process. Know that wills are not just for people in retirement but for everyone of any age within adulthood. Even if you believe you do not have any assets, if you do not own any type of property or have no children, letting us help you devise a will is imperative to your peace of mind, the future of your loved ones, and the proper division of your estate.
Even so, when you come into our office for help creating a will, we can introduce you to other documents that can help you establish a comprehensive estate plan for the sake of protecting your wishes and interests in full. If you have questions about wills or estate planning, call us at 704-549-1950 to set up a consultation.
At GPS Law Group, we offer legal services related to wills to those in Charlotte, Cornelius, Davidson, Huntersville, Matthews, Mint Hill, Pineville, Concord, Harrisburg, and Kannapolis, North Carolina.