Kansas City Divorce & Family Law Blog by Stange Law Firm, PC

Creating an estate plan helps many families feel more at ease about the future. Estate planning is especially important for blended families and individuals who have remarried. If you are unsure how to begin updating or creating an estate plan, you need an experienced estate planning attorney. An attorney can help you decide what changes are needed and how to effectively protect the interests and financial standing of all those in your family. If you already have an estate plan, a second marriage is the right time to review and update it. If you do not have an estate plan,

Estate planning can include a few or multiple documents to determine your wishes and the people you want to benefit from your estate. These documents can be personalized to meet your specific needs. Comprehensive estate planning provides significant benefits, but it is only useful if it is legally enforceable. An estate planning attorney is necessary when creating your estate plan. Every plan is different, but understanding the benefits of some of the most common documents can help you understand the use of comprehensive planning. A Last Will and Testament A will is a basic part of a simple or comprehensive

Comprehensive estate planning throughout your life can benefit you and your loved ones. Trusts are an effective way to provide assets to loved ones without your property passing through probate court. Trusts can also be used to provide assets to a loved one without jeopardizing the state benefits they rely on to live. This is a special needs trust. A trust attorney can help you and your loved one create a trust that provides them with the most benefits and protects their interests. Individuals who receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Medicaid, and other government benefits programs cannot have more than

Same-sex couples gained several benefits from marriage equality, but there are still many ways that effective estate planning can protect LGBT+ couples and their families. Not all couples wish to be married, and there are still complicated legal issues for those who are, such as the assumption of parental rights. If you are an LGBT+ couple hoping to protect each other’s rights and the financial and personal interests of your family, you need an experienced estate planning attorney. There are several benefits to estate planning. These include: Providing Your Partner With Important Legal Rights Many LGBT+ couples remain unmarried. Even

Probate court is the process by which the state inventories, administers, and distributes the estate of a deceased person. An estate planning attorney can advise you on how to help your loved ones avoid this process. There are many reasons why you may want to avoid probate. Probate is a lengthy process for your loved ones to undertake so soon after your death, and it can last months or even years. Probate also costs your heirs and beneficiaries a lot in court and attorney fees, which can cut into the benefits you hoped to leave for them. However, not all

An executor is the personal representative of a person’s estate, named in their last will and testament. Whether you are creating a basic estate plan or a more involved estate plan, you will likely be naming a personal representative for your estate. This is a very important decision that should not be taken lightly. An estate planning attorney can help you look over your options for an executor and determine who can take on this responsibility. It’s important to not think of an executor as a ceremonial position. An executor must be able to File for probate. Review and understand