The money you save can provide for your family after your death. However, to preserve this money from creditors and the government, it is necessary to take specific steps after dying. For example, assets such as bank accounts and investments should be transferred into a “trust” or “estate,” with you as the trustee of the trust or executor of the estate. Estate planning is the process of putting such a plan into effect and can have many steps. It involves including an estate planning lawyer to draft or review your will and estate plan, a financial planner to advise on the suitable investments and savings plans, an insurance agent to advise on life and long-term care insurance, and a tax lawyer to give you advice on the right way to move your money around by taxes. However, all of this is not cheap; Estate planning may cost anywhere up to USD 30,000 (or more) depending on the complexity of your assets and how much money you would like protected from taxes.
5 Ways Of Protecting Assets After Death
- Contact an estate planning lawyer
It is essential to contact an estate planning lawyer soon after you start managing your assets. It is because the earlier you set up a trust or estate, the easier it will be to protect your assets in the future. To maintain control of your money after death, you should set up a trust or estate as soon as possible so that when the time comes for your money to be passed on after death, it will already be in a trust or estate that is legally protected from creditors and government authorities. - Find an estate planner
A second important step in estate planning is to find an independent financial planner. An independent financial planner will advise how to handle your money so that you can pass as much of it to your loved ones after death without paying taxes and leaving your assets open for the government or creditors to seize. It is because governments and creditors are notified by banks when the account holder dies, and they will seize the assets to use them for paying debts or taxes. - Get pre-will drafting from a lawyer
If you do not wish to take any risks but still want to ensure that your family is secure at a certain age, like 55, then an estate planning lawyer can draw up a pre-will for you. It is because the law clearly states what needs to be done after death to ensure that the assets are passed on through a trust or estate. A pre-will must have all new assets added, and all old assets are taken out to ensure no issues or problems with creditors or the government later. - Put your assets into a trust/estate with a trustee (you) and specify how much money you want to leave in it
Once your assets are in a trust or estate, you can specify how much money you want to pass on to your heirs after death. You can also choose how the money is to be passed on, for example, whether it is passed on as part of one bulk amount or as several smaller amounts. - Find a tax lawyer
When setting up your trust or estate, the estate planning lawyer can also advise you on what investments to make and how to set up your assets to protect you from taxes. It is because when you leave money for heirs after death, the money is no longer considered part of your estate and therefore becomes subject to taxes unless steps are taken after death to prevent this. Some types of investment that an estate planning lawyer may recommend include real estate investment trusts (REITs) or real property holding companies (EOCs). These investments allow you to pass on real property without the government seizing it in the form of the estate tax. Another type of investment that a taxation law may recommend is to set up a trust and leave part of your money in it to ensure that it can only be used for the trust. It is because money set aside for a trust or estate will not usually come under the estate tax mania.
To protect your money and assets after death, taking specific steps while you are still alive is essential. For example, contact an estate planning attorney as soon as possible, find an independent financial planner and invest in real estate, or establish a trust to protect money. It is essential to find the right amount of money and assets you want to pass on after death and put this into a legally protected trust or estate.
Finding an estate planning attorney near you will give you peace of mind and help you create a plan to protect your assets. The estate planning process demands the expert help of a lawyer so that you can get the justice and security you deserve. Because estate planning lawyers know the ins and outs of this legal process, they can find solutions to these complex issues efficiently. Most importantly, an experienced estate planning attorney can advise you on questions about wills, trusts, and assets that may arise after death. Estate planning lawyers know the details of estate and inheritance laws in your state. This expertise comes in handy when forging legal strategies for passing on wealth to loved ones. Choosing the right estate attorney for you means considering several factors that can affect your overall experience with this professional, including location, experience, educational background, and personal philosophy.
There are many types of estate planning lawyers: probate attorneys deal with wills and trusts, financial planners deal with taxes and insurance, and wealth managers deal with investment management; each type has a specific area of expertise. Estate planning can be costly so finding an affordable lawyer is essential. Therefore, finding estates lawyers near me will allow you to consult as many attorneys as possible.