Goldstein Mauer PLLC is here to help with your estate planning; reach out today to avoid the hassles of probate and secure your legacy for future generations. If your estate qualifies for a simplified procedure, your heirs can access the assets more quickly and with less paperwork. In some states, there are procedures that allow estates of smaller value to bypass the full probate process. While gifting can help avoid probate and reduce the size of your estate, it’s important to consider the long-term impact of these gifts. Gifting can be an effective way to reduce the size of your estate and the burden of probate for your loved ones. For this reason, it’s crucial to check that all beneficiary designations align with the overall goals of your estate pla


Our trusts are designed to work in real life for real people—you still file taxes the same way, use your money the same way, and you still have total access and control. You live out of your living trust and protect your assets with your asset protection trust. You need all three cars—the will, the living trust, and the asset protection trust—in your estate planning train to create an integrated system. Many clients ask if they still need a living trust after they form an asset protection trus


Now if both owners were to pass at the same time, it would go through the process. Most wills go through the probate process – usually much quicker than if you didn’t have one – but there are several steps you can take which could excuse you from the process. Since probate court uses government resources, it takes a certain percentage of the total estate value, typically between 3% to 7%. The probate process has been known to be difficult and sometimes costly. A trust of this type involves some setup costs, but it allows you to manage the disposition of all your wealth in one document while retaining control and reserving the right to modify your plan.
Whether you're in Brooklyn, Queens, or Staten Island, our fully accessible office is ready to welcome you. Estate planning isn't just for the wealthy—it's essential for anyone who wants to ensure their family avoids unnecessary legal complications during already difficult times. The combination of strategies that works best for you depends on your specific assets, family structure, values, and goals. You've worked hard to build financial security, and you deserve an estate plan that protects those assets from unnecessary erosion through probate costs and delays. Avoiding probate court requires proactive planning, but the peace of mind and financial protection it provides your family is invaluable. Upon your death, the trust assets pass directly to your beneficiaries without probate.
Maintain a Comprehensive Asset Inventory and Digital Estate Plan
This method provides privacy and ensures a smooth transfer of assets to your beneficiaries. As the grantor, you can maintain control over the trust during your lifetime and designate a trustee to manage the assets upon your death. It allows you to clearly outline how you want your assets estate protection services distributed after your passing. Probate court can be a lengthy and costly process for families dealing with the loss of a loved on


Under California Probate Code Section 4120, a trust can work alongside a durable power of attorney to provide comprehensive incapacity protection. And that does not include court filing fees, appraisal costs, or extraordinary fees for complex matters. However, even in these cases, a living trust provides incapacity protection and privacy that a will cannot. If you become incapacitated due to illness or injury, a will does nothing to help manage your affairs. A living trust remains private because it never passes through the court system. Anyone can view the details of your estate, including what you owned and who inherited i


Whether you opt for trusts, beneficiary designations, or gifting, avoiding probate can make the process smoother and reduce the stress on your beneficiaries. Similarly, transferring ownership of the business to a trust can prevent probate from delaying the transfer of business assets to the beneficiaries. This can provide a clear path for the continuation of the business without the interruption of probate. A buy-sell agreement allows co-owners of a business to plan for the transfer of ownership upon the death or retirement of one of the owners. Proper business succession planning can make sure that your business continues to operate smoothly after your death, while avoiding the need for probate. However, for estates that exceed the threshold, a more traditional probate process may still be necessar


Understand how to help clients maximize the financial benefits of a charitable giving plan, including potential tax benefits. This checklist provides a structured framework for clients to record the status and custodians of their financial assets and documents. Preparing heirs means helping them understand how the family’s wealth was built, the responsibility of inheriting it one day, and the actions and attitudes that will be required to preserve it. And through the estate planning process, you can research with clients the options that provide for the protection of their personal and family privacy. Effective estate planning considers your clients’ lifestyle and values, as well as their wishes for how to deploy their wealth both now and after they are gone. 64% of advisors say their clients worry their children aren’t ready for inheritance.1
Edward Jones Trust Company as a trustee
For example, your estate plan should include advanced healthcare directives and a healthcare proxy so that, if you become incapacitated, someone you trust can make medical decisions as per your wishes. We want to ensure that your financial plan aligns with your long-term tax strategy, so you keep more of what’s yours. From preparing and filing your taxes to providing forward-looking tax advice designed to minimize future tax burdens, we can help yo