Sunday, March 15, 2020

What Estate Planning Attorney to Use? (Video)

What Estate Planning Attorney to Use?

Today I want to talk to you about the second top secret question for successful estate planning… what estate planning attorney should I choose?

Hello.  I’m Gary DeWitt from DeWitt Law Firm.  We do estate planning.  We do probate.  We do it well.

If you have questions about this or anything else you can book a time to talk to me over the phone or in person, for free, by going to http://PlanWithGary.com

A good estate planning attorney will devote a good part, if not all their practice to the art and science of estate planning.  Other attorneys simply don’t have the knowledge, skill, judgment or experience to plan your estate properly.

Nothing is more important in a lawyer/client relationship than having a lawyer you trust.  And nothing is more important to most attorneys that they can be trusted by the clients they work for.  You will be sharing intimate parts of your personal life and financial matters with the attorney to get your plan completed.

If the attorney has an assistant create your estate plan, then why hire the attorney?  You may as well hire the assistant (except that it is illegal in most states to practice law without a license…)

An attorney who structures meetings by allowing enough time to answer your questions.  High-volume practices have short appointments so they can move clients quickly through the process.  I don’t know about you, but this is not the level of service I expect when I hire a lawyer.

One who has dedicated his practice to helping people understand their estate planning alternatives.  An attorney who takes the time to explain what you need to know.  An attorney who has “written the book.”

At best, you get what you pay for. Most people do not shop for the cheapest doctor.  Instead, they focus on the doctor’s qualifications and experience.  You should apply the same principle when selecting an estate planning attorney.  If the fee is too low, the lawyer may be leaving something out.  Make sure the fee you pay and the services you receive are of equal value. 

Shouldn’t you be able to talk with the lawyer for free before you decide whether to hire him?  Shouldn’t you get the chance to make sure you are comfortable with them?

If you have questions about this or anything else you can book a time to talk to me over the phone or in person, for free, by going to http://PlanWithGary.com

The post What Estate Planning Attorney to Use? (Video) appeared first on DeWitt Law Firm, PLLC.



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What is Estate Planning? (Video)

What is Estate Planning?

Today I want to talk to you about the first top secret question of successful estate planning… what is estate planning?

Hello.  I’m Gary DeWitt from DeWitt Law Firm.  We do estate planning.  We do probate.  We do it well.

If you have questions about this or anything else you can book a time to talk to me over the phone or in person, for free, by going to http://www.PlanWithGary.com.

Estate planning is the process of arranging for care of your affairs and the disposition of your final estate.

Most people think of estate planning as nothing more than deciding how to distribute their final estate.

This part is handled with a Last Will and Testament or a Trust.

Or, if a person chooses not to plan, the state’s plan, “intestate succession” is used instead.

The second area is rarely though of until it is too late.

It is managing your assets and affairs in case of mental incapacity or disability.

We are living longer than ever.  Unfortunately, for many folks, their body is outliving their mind.

Estate planning is about protecting your assets, dignity, and rights during your lifetime. 

This protection comes in two parts.

The first part is arranging for protection and management of your assets during your lifetime when you can’t manage your assets yourself.

The second part is arranging for managing your healthcare during your lifetime when you can’t make healthcare decisions.

The documents you need are:

  • A Healthcare Power of Attorney
  • A Durable Power of Attorney
  • A Living Will (Advance Directive)
  • Authorization for Release of Protected Healthcare Information (HIPAA Waiver)

If you have questions about this or anything else you can book a time to talk to me over the phone or in person, for free, by going to http://www.PlanWithGary.com

The post What is Estate Planning? (Video) appeared first on DeWitt Law Firm, PLLC.



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Monday, March 9, 2020

Top Secrets of Successful Estate Planning #1b – Picking an Estate Planning Attorney (Video)

Hello.  I’m Gary DeWitt from DeWitt Law Firm.  We do estate planning.  We do probate.  We do it well.

If you have questions about this or anything else you can book a time to talk to me over phone or in person, for free, by going to http://PlanWithGary.com

Today I want to talk to you about the first top secret to a successful estate plan…  not all attorney are equal

A good estate planning attorney will devote a good part, if not all their practice to the art and science of estate planning.  Other attorneys simply don’t have the knowledge, skill, judgment or experience to plan your estate properly.

Nothing is more important in a lawyer/client relationship than having a lawyer you trust.  And nothing is more important to most attorneys that they can be trusted by the clients they work for.  You will be sharing intimate parts of your personal life and financial matters with the attorney to get your plan completed.

If the attorney has an assistant create your estate plan, then why hire the attorney? 

You may as well hire the assistant (except that it is illegal in most states to practice law without a license…)

An attorney who structures meetings by allowing enough time to answer your questions.  High-volume practices have short appointments so they can move clients quickly through the process.  I don’t know about you, but this is not the level of service I expect when I hire a lawyer.

One who has dedicated his practice to helping people understand their estate planning alternatives. 

An attorney who takes the time to explain what you need to know. 

An attorney who has “written the book.”

At best, you get what you pay for. Most people do not shop for the cheapest doctor.  Instead, they focus on the doctor’s qualifications and experience.  You should apply the same principle when selecting an estate planning attorney.  If the fee is too low, the lawyer may be leaving something out.  Make sure the fee you pay and the services you receive are of equal value. 

Shouldn’t you be able to talk with the lawyer for free before you decide whether to hire him?  Shouldn’t you get the chance to make sure you are comfortable with them?

If you have questions about this or anything else you can book a time to talk to me over phone or in person, for free, by going to http://www.PlanWithGary.com

The post Top Secrets of Successful Estate Planning #1b – Picking an Estate Planning Attorney (Video) appeared first on DeWitt Law Firm, PLLC.



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Top Secrets of Successful Estate Planning – The Two Parts of Estate Planning (Video)

Hello.  I’m Gary DeWitt from DeWitt Law Firm.  We do estate planning.  We do probate.  We do it well.

If you have questions about this or anything else you can book a time to talk to me over phone or in person, for free, by going to PlanWithGary.com

Today I want to talk to you about the first top secret to a successful estate plan… the 2 major areas of estate planning.

Most people think of estate planning as nothing more than deciding how to distribute their final estate.

This part is handled with a Last Will and Testament or a Trust. 

Or, if a person chooses not to plan, the state’s plan, “intestate succession,” is used instead.

The second area is rarely though of until it is too late.

It is managing your assets and affairs in case of mental incapacity or disability.

We are living longer than ever.  Unfortunately, for many folks, their body is outliving their mind.

Estate planning is about protecting your assets, dignity, and rights during your lifetime. 

This protection comes in two parts.

The first part is arranging for protection and management of your assets during your lifetime when you can’t manage your assets yourself.

The second part is arranging for managing your healthcare during your lifetime when you can’t make healthcare decisions.

The documents you need are:

  • A Healthcare Power of Attorney
  • A Durable Power of Attorney
  • A Living Will (Advance Directive)
  • Authorization for Release of Protected Healthcare Information (HIPAA Waiver)

If you have questions about this or anything else you can book a time to talk to me over phone or in person, for free, by going to http://PlanWithGary.com

The post Top Secrets of Successful Estate Planning – The Two Parts of Estate Planning (Video) appeared first on DeWitt Law Firm, PLLC.



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