Estate Planning and Wills & Trusts

For many people, the concept of estate planning is an unwelcome one because it is a reminder of one's mortality. Too often people put off this vital activity, and the consequences of failure to prepare can be devastating for the surviving family and loved ones. These effects can include having the estate endure years of probate; the imposition of estate taxes that can greatly deplete, if not entirely wipe out, estate assets including family farms; and a post-probate estate that is insufficient to provide for the well-being of those the deceased had intended to provide for. Therefore, it is important that estate planning be handled as early in one's life as possible.

The attorneys of Mann, Vita & Elrod have the experience to handle both the simplest and the most complex estate planning issues of clients. Among the matters that we have represented in this area are: general durable powers of attorney, irrevocable life insurance trusts, revocable trusts, wills, and probate cases. We also have significant experience incorporating estate planning into overall financial planning for individuals and families. Beyond this, our clients know that when they entrust estate planning issues to us, we keep personal information as confidential as possible.