how a real esate attorney can help with estate planning

by Prof. Madison Daugherty 7 min read

An estate lawyer can help you get the correct legal documents for your situation. They can help you set up documents such as power of attorney, a revocable living trust, an assignment agreement, property title deeds, and a funding letter.

An estate planning attorney is trained in matters related to passing on your assets after you die. Estate attorneys help you create draft documents and create plan so that your assets go to your intended beneficiaries without any court battles or big tax bills.

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How can an attorney help you plan your estate?

Mar 25, 2020 · An attorney can help you plan to avoid this through the use of gifts, death beneficiaries, trusts, and joint property ownership. When you form a trust on our own, you again risk it being legally...

What is an estate planning attorney called?

An estate planning lawyer can prepare a durable power of attorney and healthcare directives. These provide for someone to manage a person’s affairs including medical care should they become mentally incapacitated. These powers of attorney can stipulate the specific authority being given to the appointed person.

What does a real estate attorney do when selling a house?

In addition to educating you about the probate process, an estate planning attorney can assist you with the following tasks: Creating a will; Designating your beneficiaries; Establishing durable power of attorney and medical durable power of attorney; Finding ways to reduce and avoid estate tax when possible; Finding ways to avoid the probate court process

When should I hire an estate planning attorney?

Jul 26, 2019 · Often times, people fail to set up a Power of Attorney for Property and/or Power of Attorney for Healthcare. A qualified estate planning lawyer can explain to you and your loved ones how a Power of Attorney, Will, and Revocable Living Trust work together to provide an effective estate plan. How can an Estate Planning Attorney help with the transfer real estate upon the …

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What is estate planning attorney?

Estate planning attorneys, also referred to as estate law attorneys or probate attorneys, are experienced and licensed law professionals with a thorough understanding of the state and federal laws that affect how your estate will be inventoried, valued, dispersed, and taxed after your death.

Can an estate planning attorney help with probate?

In fact, a good estate planning attorney may be able to help you avoid probate court altogether, but that largely depends on the type of assets in the deceased's estate and how they are legally allowed to be transferred.

How Does a Real Estate Closing Attorney Help Buyers and Sellers?

The real estate closing is the last stage of any real estate transaction. Even with a strong real estate agreement and approval for the mortgage, there are many things that a skilled lawyer does to help clients at the settlement/the closing.

Serving as an escrow agent

Lawyers can serve as attorney-closing agents if need be. This means we can serve as:

Skilled real estate lawyers review the title insurance requirements

Seasoned Indian River County lawyers perform some of the following tasks depending on whether we represent the buyer or the seller:

Claims involving the real estate claim

Any claims by the buyer need to be resolved before the title company and the buyer’s lawyer will agree to release the funds due to the seller. A common issue at closing is the buyer’s claim that certain repairs haven’t been completed.

Closing documents

The buyers and sellers normally need to have, review, and sign certain documents. The lawyer for the buyer/seller reviews these documents with their clients. Common documents that are needed for the real estate closing include:

What happens after the closing?

There are still tasks the real estate lawyer at the closing must perform or make sure the title company performs:

Speak with an experienced Indian River County real estate lawyer today

At Lulich & Attorneys, our Vero Beach and Sebastian real estate lawyers represent buyers and sellers from the initial agreement of sale through the mortgage approval process, inspections, and the settlement closing. Lulich Attorneys & Consultants guides buyers and sellers, answers all your questions, and helps resolve any disputes that may arise.

What is an estate plan?

An effective “estate plan” involves an actual plan which takes into account the goals and unique circumstances of each family. A fillable form does not provide any guidance or a plan for a seamless transfer of assets to beneficiaries which can avoid court involvement. We see many issues that result from poor estate planning and do-it-yourselfers, including unintended disinheritance (yes, sadly we have seen this before because a do-it-yourselfer didn’t understand the form), probate, conservatorships for minors, all of which could have been easily avoided with proper guidance.

Do it yourself estate planning?

We Americans like doing things ourselves, and this DIY or “Do It Yourself” impulse can extend to estate planning. Various online websites offer these DIY legal documents. However, as the old saying goes, you typically “get what you pay for.” Drafting your own estate plan can backfire. You may never know it, but your family may spend unnecessary time and money sorting out your affairs if something is not done correctly. Before trusting your assets and end-of-life care to a fill-in-the-blank form, considering the following:

Do you need a will to avoid probate?

A will may be the extent of your estate planning knowledge, but wills have potential pitfalls. For example, many people believe that if they have a will, their estate will avoid probate. However, that is not always true because it may not cover your individualized needs. Additional documents may be needed for situations such as real estate, your business, a special needs trust for caring for a disabled loved one or how to minimize taxes. Knowing which combination of documents are necessary for your specific needs is important.

What is the difference between a realtor and a real estate agent?

A real estate agent, or realtor, is tasked with marketing a property for sale or finding a property for a buyer, Romer said, while an attorney is enlisted to ensure someone’s legal rights are protected during a home sale. Real estate agents are paid based on commission , while attorneys are paid a separate legal fee that is typically a flat rate, he said.

How much does an attorney charge per hour?

While most attorneys charge a flat rate, some will charge by the hour, with hourly rates ranging from $150 to $350, according to Thumbtack.

Do you need a real estate attorney to close a house?

Some states require a real estate attorney for closing, while others don’t. In states that don’t require an attorney, it’s still a good idea to consider hiring one to help make sure everything is in good order. How much does a real estate attorney cost may factor into your decision-making given how many costs are associated with closing on a house .

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