Personalized Estate Planning

That seems like sensible advice, doesn't it? Yet a surprising number of people leave no estate plan in place for their survivors. It makes a certain amount of sense. Nobody likes talking about death. But this is exactly why you should make an effort to create and maintain an estate plan: you simply won’t be there to settle matters when the time comes. Everyone needs an estate plan.

Without your instructions, it could be decided in court. If you don't leave behind an estate plan, your family could face major legal issues and, potentially, bitter disputes. Your estate plan may include wills and trusts, life insurance, disability insurance, guidance on the care for children and other dependents, powers of attorney, a living will, medical directives, anatomical donation directives, a pre-or post-nuptial agreement, extended care insurance, charitable gifts, debts, passwords, digital assets, and more.

Wills & Trusts

Why not just a will? While your will may state who your beneficiaries are, they may still have to seek a court order to have assets transferred from your name to theirs. Estate planning can include items like properly prepared and funded trusts, which could help your heirs to avoid probate. Probate can be an expensive process and lock up assets during the time they're needed most.

Beneficiary designations on qualified retirement plans and life insurance policies usually override bequests made in wills or trusts. Many people never review the beneficiary designations on their retirement plan accounts and insurance policies, and the estate planning consequences of this inattention can be serious. Having an estate plan means keeping the estate plan updated, as time passes or changes happen in your family.Trusts are often used to avoid the probate process. A Trust involves a property owner giving legal ownership of the property to someone else. The person receiving ownership is called a Trustee. It is the Trustee’s job to manage the property in a way that benefits the Trust’s beneficiaries.

Probate Administration

Losing a loved one is one of life’s most difficult experiences and can be extremely stressful and confusing. Everyone has an estate.

Someday, it will be someone's job to account for the things you leave behind when you die. This goes for homeowners and renters, those who are retired and those who are working full-time, and everyone from every walk of life.

Probate is the administrative process of settling an estate whether the decedent died with or without a will. If appointed the personal representative named in your will has the responsibility of settling your estate according to the terms and provisions of it and Montana law. Although probate may seem lengthy and detailed, it is provided by Montana law to assure that the property of the deceased is accounted for, and that all debts and taxes are paid. Someone must carry out the business of the estate and see that the property is distributed to. the designated parties.

Real Estate Transfers

An important part of estate planning is figuring out what to do with your real property. “Real property”—also known as “real estate”—is land and anything permanently attached to the land, like houses, buildings, fences, or trees. Making a plan for what will happen to your real property can save your loved ones money and frustration after you die.

Business Planning/ LLC Formation

A limited liability company is a business ownership structure that separates your personal affairs from your business affairs. When set up properly, an LLC shields your personal assets from being taken to pay business debts or claims against the business, like a corporation.

Guardianship/ Conservatorship

Guardianships and conservatorships are legal relationships created when a person or institution is named in a will or assigned by the court to take care of the person and affairs of minor children or incompetent adults.

Planning for Your Pets

Like many people, you probably consider your pets to be a part of your family and want to make sure they’re taken care of after you’re gone. But in the eyes of the law, pets are considered property, and you can’t use your Will to leave them an inheritance.

However, you can still provide for your pets’ care when you create a Will or a Trust by naming a “pet guardian,” a.k.a. a beneficiary for your pet.

In addition, we can help pet owners to create a Pet Directive! This Pet Directive provides important information about your pet that only you may know.

You can identify a new owner and provide information on your pet's medical history, routines and instructions for end-of-life-care.