No one wants their affairs to go to probate court when they are sick and in a nursing home or a hospital. Probate court is not private, anyone can access your estate records. The only way to avoid probate court is to plan ahead. If you fail to plan ahead, probate court will appoint you’re guardian or conservator and probate your will and testament after you are gone.
If you are dealing with the estate of a loved one, you will want to help ensure they take the steps necessary to keep their affairs private. That planning will also help keep the extra stress off of you and other family members left behind.
A qualified and experienced elder law or estate planning attorney can help you explore these important documents and ways of keeping your loved one’s affairs out of probate court:
- Trust
- Transfer on death
- Payable on death
- IRAs
- Life insurance beneficiaries
- Property deeds
- Retirement plans
- Annuities
- Bank accounts
The most important step is taking the first step. If you have a loved one diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or other mentally debilitating disorders, you cannot afford to wait until later to plan how his or her financial and medical requirements will be handled. An experienced elder law attorney can help you determine the best estate planning methods and options for your unique situation.
