Thomas E. Scifres PC - Attorney At Law.
Thomas E. Scifres PC - Attorney At Law.
  • 43 Public Square,
    Suite 103,
    Salem, IN 47167
  • Schedule Your Free Personal Injury Consultation.

    (812) 359-8007

    Call For An Appointment To Discuss Your Needs.

Estate Planning In Salem, IN

Thomas E Scifres PC – Attorney At LawEstate planning can seem like a very daunting process, which often leads to delaying getting started. The longer it is put off, however, the more overwhelming it can become. Estate planning doesn’t need to be so overwhelming, though. With the best estate planning attorney in Salem, IN, you can be certain that your assets and affairs will be handled in a way that is tailored to your own personal wishes. The sooner you call Thomas E. Scifres, the sooner you can have that peace of mind.

Estate Planning Checklist: The Essential Documents

There are a few essential documents you will be looking at when you begin the process of estate planning in Salem, IN. To get you started, here is a simple estate planning checklist of the documents you will want to become familiar with:

  • Last Will and Testament
  • Durable Power of Attorney
  • Health Care Power of Attorney
  • Advance Directive

A Last Will and Testament will determine how your assets will be distributed after your passing. You get to dictate who gets what. This may include, for instance, specific items of property or money you want given to certain people, as well as any charitable gifts you want to make. You also get to pick who is in charge of carrying out your final wishes. This is known as the “Executor” (or “personal representative”). Also, if you have minor children, you can identify your preference in who gets appointed as guardian(s) to raise them and handle the money to be used for that purpose.

The Durable Power of Attorney appoints someone to act on your behalf over your assets. This person may advocate on your behalf in the event you should become incapacitated. This POA can also be used for a limited time should you ever be away from home for a period of time). The person you appoint (known as your “attorney-in-fact”) will oversee your estate until such a time as you recover and are able to resume the handling of your own affairs.

The Health Care Power of Attorney appoints someone to make medical decisions on your behalf should you become unable to make them for yourself. This remains in place only until you recover and are able to make decisions again.

The Living Will (also known as an “Advance Directive”) outlines your wishes as it pertains to the use of extraordinary life-sustaining efforts in the event you have a terminal illness, your death is deemed imminent with no medical hope of recovery, and medical treatment is deemed only to prolong the dying process. In such cases, you can decide in advance through this document that you wish not to have treatment administered. Clients utilize this to give peace of mind to loved ones who may otherwise be faced with such a heart-wrenching decision. By dictating this in advance, clients and their families can have peace of mind that your wishes are carried out without the guilt and uncertainty that loved ones otherwise might face.

Letting your loved ones know your wishes in all of these situations can lessen the trauma on them to some degree. Being able to communicate your wishes even when you are in a position where communication is impossible is the greatest gift you can give them.

The specific documents you will need to plan your estate can vary based on your unique situation. There is no one-answer-fits-all when it comes to estate planning, as everyone comes with different assets, beneficiaries, and wishes.

If you live in Salem, IN and want to have a conversation with an estate planning lawyer about your specific situation, call Thomas E Scifres PC, Attorney at Law at (812) 359-8007 today.

When to Hire an Estate Planning Attorney?

The best time to hire an estate planning attorney is yesterday. The sooner that you get the process started, the sooner you will gain the peace of mind you deserve. An experienced estate planning attorney can walk you through the process and ensure that all of your wishes are preserved.

There are several situations where hiring an estate planning attorney becomes even more crucial. In these situations, there are many elements that can complicate the process. You will need an experienced estate planning attorney to help you navigate the process if you…

  • Own a business or are a business partner,
  • Have foreign or out-of-state assets, such as property,
  • Want to disinherit anyone,
  • Have a blended family,
  • Want to bequeath assets to a non-citizen,
  • Want to set up an irrevocable trust, or
  • If you have a dependent with special needs.

If you live in Salem, IN and want to have a conversation with an estate planning lawyer about your specific situation, call Thomas E Scifres PC, Attorney at Law at (812) 359-8007 today.

What is the cost of an estate planning lawyer?

The cost of an estate planning lawyer can vary based on your specific needs. Many estate planning attorneys offer a free consultation to discuss the cost of estate planning. Some elements that will factor into the cost will be…

  • What services you receive,
  • What state you live in,
  • The complexity of your situation, and
  • If your attorney charges a flat rate or hourly fee.

An experienced estate planning attorney will often be able to accurately predict the cost of services during an initial consultation.

If you live in Salem, IN and want to have a conversation with an estate planning lawyer about your specific situation, call Thomas E Scifres PC, Attorney at Law at (812) 359-8007 today

Thomas E. Scifres

Schedule Your Free Personal Injury Consultation.
(812) 359-8007
Call For An Appointment To Discuss Your Needs.

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