Creating the right Estate Plan to protect your family and assets
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For most people, Estate Planning involves creating a Will and drafting related powers of attorney. Think about the purpose of the will — it determines who will get your assets at your death. Therefore, the attorney will need to know what your assets are, and to whom you want to leave them. Without proper planning, the value of your assets can be subject to estate tax and/or income tax to your beneficiaries. These are the two broad categories, and there are details in each that need to be shared with the attorney.
You should be prepared to tell your attorney who you wish to receive your assets, and provide a list of your assets.
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Setting goals to meet your financial and legal needs
My goal is to give you peace of mind by helping to ensure you and your loved ones will be provided for in the event of your death or disability.
During your consultation, Kathleen will work with you to determine exactly what goals you hope to accomplish. She will work to see that those goals are met in the most effective way possible, by structuring a plan covering all critical personal, financial, business, and tax issues.
This can be an uncomfortable topic to consider, but it is critically important. A well-crafted estate plan can minimize the tax impact on the disposition of your assets, ensure a smooth transition of assets to your heirs, and most importantly, allow you to plan now for the care and well-being of your children, relatives, and friends after you are gone.
Prepare for the unknown
In addition to the drafting of wills, trusts, limited liability companies, and life insurance trusts, we often help clients prepare for un-planned possibilities like debilitating health problems, or disabling injuries. It is Kathleen’s objective to maximize the control you and your loved ones will have at critical times regarding healthcare decisions and asset management, while minimizing the need for court intervention.
Using a time tested skill-set of proven legal techniques, Kathleen guides clients through complexities which might otherwise seem overwhelming. Kathleen L. Macaulay is a licensed attorney with twenty years of experience in all aspects of estate planning, probate matters, and related tax advice.
Our Other Practice Areas
Probate and Estate Administration
Estate and Trust administration can be a smooth, straightforward process, or a difficult experience. Kathleen can explain the process and help you evaluate the risks.
Finding Heirs - Forensic Genealogy
As an attorney and forensic genealogist, Kathleen lends her expertise in both areas to the diligent search and conduct of legal proceedings to establish unknown heirs.
Business Organization Planning
Each business is unique, and the question of which form of organization is best can only be answered by looking at the specifics of the business and its goals.
Plan for the Future Today
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This can be an uncomfortable topic to consider, but it is critically important. A well-crafted estate plan can minimize the tax impact on the disposition of your assets, ensure a smooth transition of assets to your heirs, and most importantly, allow you to plan now for the care and well-being of your children, relatives, and friends after you are gone.
About Kathleen
Kathleen Macaulay is a licensed attorney with over twelve years of experience whose practice focuses on estate planning, probate matters, and related tax advice. This includes drafting wills and medical powers of attorney, establishing trusts to preserve assets, managing probate estates.