Estate Planning Attorney Hazleton, PA
Estate planning is one of those essential tasks that people tend to put off because it can be overwhelming and upsetting to think about the relationship between your health, your finances, and your later years. But estate planning doesn’t need to be stressful or uncomfortable – and it can benefit people of all ages from all walks of life.
At Kreisher Marshall & Associates, we work hard to make the estate planning process accessible. Our estate planning attorneys provide sensitive and supportive legal guidance personalized to your goals and situation. Our compassionate approach to estate planning means that we take the time to listen to you, making difficult conversations feel as stress-free as possible, and help you draft a comprehensive plan that protects you, your family, and everything that matters to you.
The legal team at Kreisher Marshall & Associates has been helping Pennsylvania residents with customized and effective legal representation for over 50 years. Our team proudly serves individuals and families living in the Hazleton area. Contact our office today and arrange a confidential consultation to discuss your situation and legal needs.
Understanding Hazleton Estate Planning
Too often, people want to avoid difficult topics and conversations to avoid upsetting family members or themselves. However, planning for you and your family’s future is one of the smartest moves you can make to protect what’s important. Estate planning is more than laying out your final wishes. Estate planning should be a comprehensive approach to customizing and managing the distribution of your estate and assets, not only after death but in cases of illness or incapacitation.
Communicating with your family about your wishes is step one. Step two is consulting with an experienced estate planning attorney serving the Hazleton area to help you narrow down the estate planning tools you need to manage your estate and assets. At Kreisher Marshall & Associates, our legal team wants to help you find creative and customized legal solutions. We get to know you, discuss your goals and what’s most important to you, and then outline the estate planning tools that best address your situation and final wishes. We aim to make the process as comfortable as possible because estate planning should never feel depressing. It should feel empowering.
Hazleton Estate Planning Tools
Why is it called estate planning when outlining your final wishes can be accomplished with a will? While one of the most common estate planning tools, a will is just one of the many instruments an experienced estate planning attorney can use to create an all-encompassing approach to managing your estate and assets. A will is vital but only offers some legal protections, while other estate planning tools can address separate issues and offer additional protections.
The types of estate planning tools that may benefit you depend on your unique situation and financial circumstances. However, some of the estate planning services you may wish to consider should include:
- Will – One of the most common and standard estate planning documents is the will. An individual’s will is a legal document outlining their final wishes after passing. A valid will can stipulate the distribution of assets and property to named beneficiaries or charities. A will is crucial because it gives you control over your assets. Without a will, your estate is subject to Pennsylvania’s intestate succession laws, and you have no say.
- Trusts – Trust an experienced estate planning attorney to help you establish a legal trust, an entity you can use to hold or manage your assets. The benefit of a trust is that assets held in a trust help your family member avoid the lengthy process of probate. Depending on the type of trust, you can also protect assets from creditors and reduce your family’s tax burden. Revocable and irrevocable trusts are the most common forms and have unique benefits and drawbacks. Older adults or families with an individual who has special needs may consider special needs trusts, which provide other legal protections.
- Medicaid Planning – Many older adults find their golden years tarnished by medical and long-term care costs. Pennsylvania nursing home costs can amount to well over $100,000 annually. Medicaid planning is a proactive way for older adults to plan for the future, helping them protect their assets while still allowing them to be eligible to apply for Medicaid benefits to help with the cost of a nursing home or long-term care.
- Power of Attorney – Unfortunately, most people think only older adults or those with significant health conditions need a power of attorney. However, everyone, especially young adults heading off to college, should consider the benefits of adding power of attorney to their overall estate plan. Power of attorney grants another individual the legal authority to make critical decisions on your behalf in cases of incapacitation due to injury or illness. Several forms of power of attorney are recognized by Pennsylvania law, including general, health care, financial, and limiting power of attorney.
- Health Care Directives – Besides power of attorney, Hazleton residents should consider health care directives. Numerous types of health care directives give you the power to oversee your medical care when you are in a position where you can’t advocate for yourself. Health care directives outline the health care choices you prefer if you are unable to voice your preferences due to incapacitation or significant injury or illness, such as life support treatments and end-of-life care. You can also assign an individual to make healthcare decisions on your behalf.
- Guardianship Designations and Special Needs Planning – Another reason estate planning is for everyone involves guardianship designation and special needs planning. Minors and adults with special needs have unique physical, mental, and financial needs. By engaging in special needs planning, you can prepare for family members’ long-term physical and financial needs and secure and protect their future.
It can be easy to feel overwhelmed by all the estate planning tools available to Hazleton residents. At Kreisher Marshall & Associates, we review all your options and help you narrow down the tools that best accomplish your goals and address your concerns.
A Compassionate Estate Planning Attorney Serving the Hazleton Area Is Ready to Help
It’s never too late to start the estate planning process. Get started crafting an estate plan today. The legal team at Kreisher Marshall & Associates is passionate about helping Hazleton residents prepare for the future.
Contact our office today and request a consultation to learn more about your estate planning options and discuss what works for you.
Driving Directions to Our Office
If you are coming to us from Hazleton or the surrounding area, these driving directions will help you locate our office. Contact our office if you need further assistance.
From the North:
Take PA-42 S toward Bloomsburg. Turn left onto W Main St, then turn right onto S Market St. The destination will be on the left.
From the South:
Take PA-42 N toward Bloomsburg. Turn right onto W Main St, then turn right onto S Market St. The destination will be on the left.
From the East:
Take US-11 S toward Bloomsburg. Continue onto East St, and then W Main St. Turn left onto S Market St. The destination will be on the left.
From the West:
Take US-11 N toward Bloomsburg. Turn right onto Market St. The destination will be on the left.
