how a real estate attorney can help with estate planning

by Prof. Gus Zboncak MD 7 min read

Many estate planning attorneys do not charge any fee for the initial meeting. The attorneys may use this meeting to educate clients about the fundamentals of estate planning and also understand and assess their client’s need for an estate plan, their family dynamics, and financial circumstances, etc.

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.

Full Answer

What can a real estate attorney do?

A Real Estate Attorney can also assist with numerous other documents regarding all aspects of the sale of real estate. These include purchase agreements, mortgage contracts, transfer of title documents, and many other affidavits and notarized documents that are involved with real estate contracts.

Why is it important to hire a real estate attorney?

It is critical that they are knowledgeable in their field, as well as about all local issues pertaining to the property in question.

What is a deed in real estate?

A property deed is a written statement that must be created in a legally correct manner. The property deed must grant that the seller has the ability to transfer the property while the buyer must receive it. The deed must also properly describe the property which is being transferred.

What is a title?

A title includes all the rights which an owner has that come with the property which they have purchased. It is also the formal document that is transferred from the seller to the buyer and constitutes the final sale of the property. Some of the aspects covered by the title include rights regarding easement access, partitioning, exclusive possession, and use. This is the piece of paper that proves a person owns a piece of property, and it is important that it be created properly.

What is post death estate planning?

Post Death Planning: Proper estate planning may require prompt consideration of post-death planning options, such as the ability for an heir to “disclaim” property (have the property pass as though the heir died before the person who died).

What is a will in probate?

Coordinating Probate and Non-Probate Assets: A Will generally governs the disposition of assets held in the decedent’s name alone. Thus, one can draft a Will only to learn that it will have little impact if most of the assets are governed by beneficiary designations or other arrangements.

Do it yourself?

The phrase “Do it Yourself” evokes images of a weekend trip to the Home Depot, a bruised thumb, and the feeling of satisfaction that comes from a freshly painted room, a repaired deck or a newly-constructed patio planter. But even the experts at do-it-yourself publications such as This Old House frequently remind us not to delve into projects in the domain of experts such as plumbers, electricians, excavators and the like. The consequences there -- a broken gas main or electrical shocks -- could have disastrous results.

What is trust in estate planning?

Trusts are special estate planning tools that can help shield a person’s estate from taxes or direct how the wealth that they leave should be used. Trusts can be beneficial to families of all financial means not just the wealthy.

What is a durable power of attorney?

Financial and healthcare durable powers of attorney give a trusted loved one authority to act on behalf of a person who has become incapacitated due to mental illness or sudden accident. When a power of attorney is in place, they have immediate authority to instruct doctors or financial institutions without needing to go to court.

What happens when a person passes away?

When a person passes away, their will isn’t executed automatically. An estate is distributed through a court process known as probate. How long and how complicated the process is depends on what kind of estate planning methods were used.

What happens if you die without a will?

If a person dies without a will, their assets are distributed in accordance with state intestacy laws that divide the estate proportionally among close family members. In probate, all assets, including cash, investments, and real estate, must be valued.

Is a will out of date?

At least part of a will will frequently be out of date and require the court to come up with a solution that’s in line with both the law and the deceased’s wishes. There may be property or assets not covered by the will that must be handled according to intestacy laws.

Why is planning important?

Planning is crucial to success in any endeavor throughout life. From creating a budget to making smart real estate investments, there is a pathway to success that you can follow. Planning brings…. Read More →. Sep 16, 2020.

Is estate planning for the wealthy?

Estate planning isn’t just for the vastly wealthy among us —every person with a loved one, property, or business should have a plan in place to ensure that nothing is left to chance when they’re gone. Our estate planning attorneys will custom-create a plan that works for you.

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Introduction

  • The phrase “Do it Yourself” evokes images of a weekend trip to the Home Depot, a bruised thumb, and the feeling of satisfaction that comes from a freshly painted room, a repaired deck or a newly-constructed patio planter. But even the experts at do-it-yourself publications such as This Old House frequently remind us not to delve into projects in the domain of experts such as plumbers…
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The Emergence of Internet-Based Diy Tools

  • The list of DIY legal providers continues to grow. LegalZoom may be the most widely advertised of all DIY providers. Other providers include Lawdepot.com; LawyerAhead; RocketLawyer; Nolo; Corporate Filing Solutions Made Easy; BusinessRocket.net; We The People; Standard Legal, and others. DIY providers promote themselves by charging low rates for documents that ordinarily w…
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Is Diy For You?

  • Given the recent media attention focused on DIY estate planning, a person might ask himself: “Should I do my own Will?” In some limited circumstances, it may be appropriate to do so. For example, if a person has modest assets in his name alone, and desires to leave them to his closest surviving relative, it may be appropriate and cost-effective to use an online service. But f…
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Will Your Diy Plan Work When You Are Gone?

  • A Will must meet requirements for probate, properly make dispositions of the estate, address the payment of debts, taxes and other obligations, appoint fiduciaries to administer the estate and potentially guardians for minor children, and achieve all of that without creating litigation or hostility among the beneficiaries. A person who drafts his own Will must bear in mind that the cr…
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Why Retain An Experienced Estate Planning Lawyer?

  • The Task Force urges those who may engage in DIY estate planning to evaluate the following considerations before taking the leap and drafting his own estate planning documents: The Role of the Counselor-at-Law: An estate planning lawyer provides more than technical expertise in drafting complicated documents. Most have extensive experience in counseling clients in these …
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Choosing Between Diy and Professional Advice -- Controlling The Costs

  • Notwithstanding the foregoing concerns, the Task Force understands that for certain people, the cost of doing a Will may be prohibitive. Before an individual reaches that conclusion, however, he should explore the potential costs of engaging proper counsel to assist in estate planning and the benefits (for example, peace of mind) that come with such assistance. Moreover, the individual …
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Conclusion

  • The Task Force expects to further study the role of DIY estate planning. While it has identified a number of concerns, it recognizes that some people -- principally motivated by cost concerns -- will do their own Wills. The Task force anticipates that in certain situations involving the disposition of modest assets among close relatives, the DIY plan may work effectively. Yet the T…
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