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As a business owner, you understand the importance of protecting your company’s future, and succession planning helps maintain steady operations when leadership changes. Still, many plans fall short because owners never create one, fail to review or update it, or move ahead without proper legal guidance. These gaps can put the business at risk during a transition. With the right legal support, you can build a succession plan that reflects your goals and strengthens your company’s long-term stability.
While it’s possible to handle your estate planning by yourself, doing so may expose you to hidden risks. Drafting mistakes and failing to address tax consequences and other legal considerations can undermine your wishes. Meanwhile, probate complications can result in conflicts, delays, and unexpected costs for your family.
When planning one’s estate, avoiding probate is typically a desirable goal. At Evans & Davis, our specialized estate planning attorneys understand how to help you avoid the probate process entirely using trust-based plans and mechanisms, which allow us to place your assets outside the control of the courts.
The probate process allows parties to contest your will and drag your loved ones into a long, bitter conflict over your assets. Probate is not an enjoyable process for anyone. Here are some key reasons to avoid probate:
Whether a married couple should create joint or separate estate plans depends on the circumstances of each spouse and the collective context of your marriage. Most couples, including younger newlyweds, utilize joint planning to efficiently protect their uncomplicated estates. However, other couples need greater flexibility and should consider using separate plans, such as those who have blended families, are in at least their second marriage, or have complex assets.
When a married couple starts estate planning, they likely don’t have extensive knowledge about what to do and when. Whether they’re misinformed or just operating based on incorrect assumptions, many couples make the same common mistakes. Without skilled help to guide you through the process, it’s easy to fall into the same traps.
Estate planning is necessary for all married couples. Having a well-structured, trust-based estate plan in place can help couples ensure their wishes are followed in the event of a tragedy, allowing their families to avoid lengthy, stressful legal battles over their assets, custody of children, medical decisions, and more.
Getting married is the start of a new chapter of life that you’re writing together. That often comes with financial independence, buying a home, and starting a family. Estate planning can help you start your new life together with confidence, knowing that your family’s future is protected.
A trust-based estate plan is essential for all married couples to best protect their families’ futures. A comprehensive plan includes a variety of estate planning documents that work together to manage your affairs during your lifetime and distribute your assets after your death.