Wills Lawyer Maryville, TN

Estate planning is an area of law that includes a range of topics, such as trust, wills, and powers of attorney. At Carpenter & Lewis PLLC, we believe that estate planning is essential for anyone who wants to leave assets to their closest loved ones or charity organizations after they pass away. These documents can also help someone save money on taxes throughout their lifetime and enjoy using their property while keeping assets safeguarded from creditors. All in all, estate planning states how you want your assets to be handled after you pass on or if you were to become temporarily or permanently incapacitated. If you have questions about estate planning or would like to get started today, then please contact our Maryville, TN wills lawyer as soon as you can. 

What To Know About Wills

One of the most common documents used in estate planning is called a will. A person must be of clear and sound mind in order to create a will, and the author must be free of any duress or forced coercion at the time it is signed. In order to be legally valid, the signing must entail a witness. Changes to the will can be made at a later time, permitting that the individual has the capacity to do so. Every will must go through the court process called probate after they pass away. If someone dies without having a will, then their property will be distributed based on state law. What this means is that the property will be inherited by the closest relatives as instructed in the state statutes instead of those that would have been named in the will. For this reason, many people are motivated to have a will so that the court does not choose who will receive which assets. 

Benefits Of A Living Will

A living will is a document that outlines the type of treatment a person wants to receive if they were to become capacitated, not able to make their own medical decisions, or otherwise are unable to communicate these wishes to medical providers. As our knowledgeable wills attorney explains, if a person does not have a living will, then doctors may be obligated to provide certain services even if these treatments are not likely to prolong life or if they are invasive based on the patient’s terminal or poor condition. One of the benefits of a living will is that someone can have peace of mind knowing that their preferences in regards to medical care will be honored if a situation of incapacitation were to happen. 

Carpenter & Lewis PLLC

At Carpenter & Lewis PLLC, we know that planning for the future can seem overwhelming but it is a vital component of securing what you have built over a lifetime and having reassurance that your personal wishes will be followed. Our TN wills attorney can get started helping you today. All you have to do is reach out for a consultation and we can begin. Estate planning is an important step in protecting your legacy and ensuring your most cherished relatives receive the assets you want them to carry on into future generations.