Estate planning is the process of anticipating and arranging for the disposal of an estate.  Estate planning has one basic goal ─ getting your money to the people you want to have it and keeping it away from those you don’t.

There are four main items of concern in estate planning: probate, taxes, control and disability. The avoidance of probate is an important estate planning goal and can be accomplished through proper beneficiary designations, use of a revocable living trust, and proper titling of properties. Estate planning also attempts to eliminate uncertainties over the administration of a probate and maximize the value of the estate by reducing taxes and other expenses.

An objective of estate planning is to minimize estate taxes while accomplishing the client’s objective (getting assets to the right people).   Estate planning process can incorporate creating and determining: wills, trusts, beneficiary designations, powers of appointment, property ownership, gift planning, and powers of attorney – specifically a durable financial power of attorney and a durable medical power of attorney.  We offer secure data repository safe keeping services for all these important client documents.

Our network of experienced estate planning attorneys can help craft estate plans that meet the needs of our clients and their families. Atlas will recommend an appropriate estate planning firm based on the complexity of our client‘s estate planning needs.    Consistent with our philosophy, we receive no compensation for any of our referral services.  Our recommendations are based solely on what we feel is best for our clients.