Grand Rapids Estate Planning Attorney

Here To Guide You Through The Process

Estate Administration

It is our goal to design and implement an estate plan that is as robust as your present and future needs may be.

LEDFORD & ASSOCIATES

Estate Planning Is Advantageous For Everyone

Believe it or not, estate planning is advantageous for EVERYONE. Our experienced estate planning attorneys are here to guide you through the process. No matter if you are single, live in an apartment, and only have limited belongings, having a Will in place will benefit you.

Why? Leaving loved ones behind is disheartening enough without adding the responsibility of settling affairs. If you do not have a Will, the law requires, that in addition to opening a probate court proceeding, the State will determine what happens with your private affairs and possessions.A Will and Trust is essential to a family. Regardless of age, and especially if you have young children, a Trust can be used to provide for both guardianship of the child(ren) and instructions regarding all aspects of your estate, life insurance and other funds in caring for your children after your demise.

If you are concerned about the dynamics of your estate, and the future security of your loved ones, you owe it to yourself and them to consider an estate plan. Evaluate the benefits of estate planning, and recognize, that regardless of the size of your estate, there are many alternatives for accomplishing your planning goals

CLEAR AND UNDERSTANDABLE ESTATE DOCUMENTS

When a client comes to us with a store or online "one-size-fits-all" packaged Will or a Trust, the wording of the document is often unnecessarily confusing. This can even be true for documents prepared by attorneys. This presents a danger since the person who signed the document may not truly understand what it says. Especially in the case of pre-packaged forms, the documents may also be incomplete or fail to address necessary issues. As your attorneys, we take care to see that every Will, Trust and contract we generate is carefully composed in precise, understandable language. If terminology appears unclear, it is our mandate that we explain in "non-legalese" the meaning and purpose for the written words. It is important that each client has a complete understanding of any document requiring a signature. All documentation is written with the focus of protecting our clients from future challenges.

Particularly in the areas of estate planning law and probate avoidance, personal and sensitive matters will be discussed with your attorney. As such, it is essential to trust an attorney with the experience to protect your interests, and who will understand each unique and individualized concern.

By no means an exhaustive list, some of the standard estate documents that we regularly prepare are:

Wills (Simple and Pour-Over)
General Revocable Trusts
Marital Exemption Trusts
Irrevocable Trust
Special Needs Trusts
Vacation Property ("Cottage") Trusts
Real Estate Investment Trusts
Grantor Retained Income Trusts

We also are happy to provide Powers of Attorney, Patient Advocate Designations, Certificates of Trust Existence and Authority, Quit Claim Deeds, and Assignments of Tangible Assets.

It is our goal to design and implement an estate plan that is as robust as your present and future needs may be.

Often, we are asked what sort of information clients should initially provide. If you are considering creating or modifying your Will, Trust(s) or other estate planning documents, it would be helpful for you to consider the following:

Names, Dates of Birth and Address(es) of you, the client(s)
Names, Dates of Birth and Address(es) of your children, if any
Names and Address(es) of your alternate / successor personal representative(s) (executor), Trustee(s), Guardian(s) for minor children and any beneficiaries other than those mentioned above
Distribution Plan(s), including how much a person will receive (either in dollars or percentages), who will receive, and eligibility requirements (i.e., age, completion of college, W2 matching, etc.)
Worst Case Scenario recipients/donees (who should receive your estate in the event that none of your intended beneficiaries survive)

ESTATE ADMINISTRATION

What do you do when a loved one has died and you are the named executor and/or trustee? How do you probate a Will or administer a Trust?

What do you do when a loved one has died without a will or an estate plan?

When should you seek a guardianship for your aging parent or grandparent? What is a conservatorship? How do you get appointed a guardian and/or conservator?

Let us help you through these issues, your questions and the difficult challenges you are facing.

Ledford & Associates can represent you in every probate matter, including:

Trust Administration
Adoption
Guardianship Petition (court ordered authority for medical / personal affairs)
Conservatorship Petition (court ordered authority for financial affairs)
Probate Petitions and Litigation (challenging or defending Wills, Trusts and other probate court matters)
Non-Divorce Family Law

Estate Planning

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a “Will”?

A Will provides instructions for when you die. It is a legal declaration of a person's wishes regarding the disposal of their property (referred to as an “estate”) after death.

What is a “Trust”?

A trust is a legal vehicle that allows a third party, a trustee, to hold and direct assets in a trust fund on behalf of a beneficiary. A trust greatly expands your options when it comes to managing your assets, whether you’re trying to shield your wealth from taxes or pass it on to your children. There are different kinds of trusts, but the two basic types are “”revocable” trusts & “irrevocable” trusts. A trust will usually cause the assets to pass to the beneficiaries without having to be “probated” by a court.

What is “Power of Attorney”?

A power of attorney allows a person you name in the document to act in your place for financial purposes when and if you ever become incapacitated.

Do I Need a Will or Trust?

Without a Will (the legal term for this is “intestate”), your property and assets will pass according to the default statutory regulations of your state, which may, or may not, be according to your desires. With only a Will, the directions and desires expressed in the written document (the “Will”) are put into effect through a court proceeding. Generally, a Will does not provide for long-term planning.

When we prepare a Trust, one of the primary benefits of a Trust is to cause your property and assets to pass to the beneficiaries without first being subject to a court proceeding, thereby typically both a) avoiding “probate” (court proceedings); and b) generally reducing the cost to the beneficiaries of the inheritance process. One of the other significant benefits of using a trust (or, in some instances, more than one trust) is the flexibility of long-term planning, such as for college, housing, disable child or spouse planning, etc.

What is a “Medical Directive”?

A Medical Directive lets you name someone to make decisions about your medical care, including decisions about life support, mental health treatment and anatomical gifts, if you can no longer express these desires for yourself.

If you have any questions about any of the above or regarding your own specific needs, please do not hesitate to contact our office at
(616) 257-3300
to speak with our estate planning attorney!