Estate Planning
As an estate planning attorney, Patricia Scoles guides her clients through the decision-making process that will document their wishes, avoid court involvement, and minimize or eliminate estate taxes and probate expense. Creating an estate plan is a careful, deliberate process of anticipating every situation that may arise. Without guidance from an estate planning attorney, financial decisions regarding one’s assets can be turned over to an individual nominated by the court.
Regardless of the size and extent of your assets, a comprehensive financial estate plan will protect them for the benefit of your beneficiaries; persons or charitable organizations. An estate plan prepared by someone without the proper qualifications as an estate planning attorney can result in enormous and costly consequences. With over 25 years of experience, Patricia Scoles examines all changes in civil law and estate legislation as they pertain to her clients.
Getting married later in life can lead to financial and legal considerations much different from younger couples. Each party can enter the marriage with sizeable estates and their own heirs. Perhaps a prenuptial agreement or trust is appropriate when there is a new spouse involved later on to ensure that the heirs receive their inheritance. An estate planning attorney, Ms. Scoles counsels this category of “baby boomers” on long-term care, social security benefits, pension funds, alimony, child support and college aid. Often real estate holdings are combined leading to questions about joint tenancy with rights of survivorship and tenancy in common.