Estate Planning

Wills, Trusts, Power of Attorney, Living Wills, Guardianship, Conservatorship

The easiest thing for someone to put off is planning for end of life issues. Estate planning is more than just preparing for the end of life, as it can help eliminate uncertainties about your valuable assets and wishes being taken care of in your absence. The goal of estate planning is to ensure that, if you become sick or pass away, your loved ones will be able to assist you in managing your finances and that, upon death, your money and assets will be given to whom you choose and will not be decided by the Michigan’s intestate laws.

In some instances a living trust estate plan can help minimize or eliminate expenses, including taxes (also known as Inventory Fees) as well as eliminate unnecessary probate administration. It also allows you to have the final say as to “whom” or “how” your assets and money should be allocated and distributed after your death.

Attorney Paul Gipson wants to help prepare a tailored plan that will help meet your needs as well as those of your loved ones. Based in White Pigeon, Michigan, Attorney Gipson serves St. Joseph, Cass, Branch and Kalamazoo counties, with a convenient office location within one mile of Highway 131 and US 12 for local areas including Constantine, Sturgis, Three Rivers and Centreville. Estate planning and related matter he handles include:

  • Wills (also known as “Last Will and Testament”)
  • Trusts and Living Trusts
  • Power of Attorney
  • Medical Patient Advocate (a/k/a “Medical Power of Attorney” or “Living Will”)
  • Guardianship
  • Conservators
  • Probate Estates in Probate Court

Last Will and Testament & Trusts

Wills can be customized to help facilitate your estate planning needs, including but not limited to: decisions of child guardianship of minor or disabled children, estate allocation, help in eliminating future family disagreements, as well as your wishes of cremation, funeral and burial arrangements. Trusts help to manage your property and finances, and help to determine how these things can be dispersed to various parties free from probate. Trusts can be managed to replace a will or used as a tool to supplement a will. A trust is another valuable tool in seeing that, even throughout and after your life, your wishes are being carried out and interests protected.

Power of Attorney / Medical Patient Advocate

Have a tailored plan in case the unexpected happens. A Power of Attorney designates an individual to help make decisions on your behalf in the circumstance when you can no longer manage those decisions for yourself. In the same manner, you can also have drafted a Medical Patient Advocate document (aka “Living Will”) to designate an individual to carry out and advocate for the medical decisions you would want when you no longer are able to do so for yourself. This would include any deeply held thoughts you may have concerning “life support” or being kept alive after going into a vegetative state.

Conservator

A conservator can oversee an estate or an individual to help manage the finances of those individuals — including children or disabled adults — who the court deems unable to provide for their own basic needs of food, clothing and shelter.

Probate Estates in Probate Court

Are you going to court for a probate estate of a loved one? Attorney Gipson can help you to wade through this legal process by helping guide you through the probate process and proceedings.

Request an Estate Planning Consultation

Attorney Gipson has a great deal of experience helping individuals and families dealing with these difficult issues. Contact him for a customized plan to help plan for your future needs.