How Easy Estate Planning Can Be — and Why Your Family Will Thank You for It
When most people hear “estate planning,” they imagine stacks of complicated legal documents, spending too much time and money in an attorney’s office, and documents that might only be needed for the rich or elderly. The truth is, getting your estate plan in order is far easier than most people think. Many of our clients come to us saying the same thing, something like: “I want to put together a plan because my parents had a plan and things were so easy for me after they passed.” Alternatively, we also hear this a lot: “I need a plan because I just spent the past two years stuck in probate court on my parents’ estate – and paid thousands in legal fees and probate taxes!” Estate planning does a simple set of jobs – avoidance of delay, conflict, and unnecessary cost - doing it now can spare your loved ones from going through a big confusing and expensive mess after you’re gone.
The Simple Steps to Peace of Mind
A well-designed estate plan typically includes just a few key documents:
A will or living trust to direct where your assets go.
Beneficiary designations and jointly held accounts are also very useful tools!
Powers of attorney for financial and medical decisions.
These are necessary at all stages of life, from the elderly to a newly 18-year-old who is still reliant on their parents’ help!
Advance healthcare directives that ensure your wishes are known.
Without these, you’re leaving your medical decision-making to a doctor who doesn’t know you or family members who hope they are following your wishes with no guidance.
With the guidance of an experienced estate planning attorney, these uniquely tailored documents can often be completed in a relatively short time. Many of our clients tell us they’re surprised by how straightforward and efficient the process is — and by how relieved they feel once it’s done.
Why Avoiding Probate Matters
At Wakefield Law, we spend lots of time discussing probate avoidance with our clients. One of the greatest advantages of a probate-avoidance plan — is that it keeps your family out of court. Probate is the court-supervised process of distributing your assets after death. It’s public, time-consuming (from six months to a couple of years!), and often expensive.
By contrast, assets placed in a properly structured trust can pass directly to your chosen beneficiaries without court involvement. That means:
No lengthy delays — assets transfer quickly and privately.
No costly court or administrative fees eating into your estate.
No unnecessary family conflict over who gets what.
Your loved ones can focus on healing after their loss, not on navigating months (or years) of paperwork and legal proceedings.
Planning Today Protects Tomorrow
The best time to create or update your estate plan is before you need it. Unfortunately, we get calls all the time from clients who want to create plans for their incapacitated family members, or those who are trying to figure out what to do now that their loved one has passed away. Often, for those folks, little to no options are feasible. With a clear, probate-free plan in place, you’ll have peace of mind knowing that your family is protected and your wishes will be honored — quickly, efficiently, and privately.
At Wakefield Law, we make the process simple, guided, and as stress-free as possible. We also work using a flat fee model, so you know exactly what the costs will be before going forward – no surprise legal bills! Whether you’re starting from scratch or updating an existing plan, we’ll help you craft an estate plan that keeps your loved ones out of court and out of conflict.
Schedule a free consultation today and see just how easy it can be to protect everything you’ve worked for — and everyone you love.