Estate Planning & Probate
Trusted Guidance You Can Rely On
Smith-Weiss Shepard & Kanakis, P.C. can help give you peace of mind that your loved ones will be taken care of and your final wishes will be clearly expressed. Our attorneys are well-versed in drafting all end of life and financial estate planning documents that will best suit the needs of your estate upon your passing. Probate administration can be costly, time consuming and stressful for those left behind. Appropriate estate planning can limit the stress and costs associated with probate administration. Should you need to update estate planning documents, or have new documents drafted, the attorneys at Smith-Weiss Shepard & Kanakis, P.C. can draft these documents to best convey your wishes.
Estate Planning
Our goal in estate planning is to help you find the solution that works for your individual needs in a cost-effective and timely manner. We have experience with all types of estate planning documents, including Wills, Revocable Trusts, Irrevocable Trusts, Special Needs Trusts, and Powers of Attorney. End of life wishes and asset distribution are important to plan in advance. Having clear instructions and documents will inform your loved ones and ensure you wishes are followed.
Probate Administration
When a person dies, any asset titled in the deceased’s name individually, which is not jointly held or which does not have a beneficiary named, must go through probate. Probate is the judicial process of settling a deceased person’s estate by establishing whether or not the person died with a valid Will, appointing an executor or administrator with authority to act on behalf of the estate, managing debts, determining beneficiaries, and ensuring that any remaining assets after the payment of debts are distributed properly.