The vast majority of American adults do not have estate plans in place, even though most people that are surveyed feel that inheritance planning is important. Why do they fail to take action if they know that this is a responsibility that should be addressed?
There are a variety of different answers to this question, and one of them is the fear of the unknown. They view estate planning as a matter that is complicated if you look beyond a simple fill-in-the-blanks will that you buy online.
This is understandable, but some matters can be blown out of proportion. When you look back on the way you felt before you completed a task, you may realize that you were overestimating the difficulty level.
Professional Guidance
We are not saying that you should be able to execute your own estate plan. What we are suggesting is that qualified help is just a phone call or an email away.
When you have a toothache, you don’t rack your brain about the technique that will be used to make the pain go away. You make an appointment with the dentist, and there is nothing hard about that. After you make the connection, the rest is up to the dental professional.
The same thing is true when it comes to estate planning. When you connect with an attorney from our firm, we will gain understanding of your wishes and apply our expertise to develop a plan that ideally suits your needs.
Cost Concerns – Shyness Factor
In addition to the people that are frozen with inaction because they don’t know where to begin, there are those that take pause out of shyness. People usually don’t talk about this subject, but it is actually very common.
It can be hard for some people to establish new relationships, because it can be uncomfortable to “break the ice.” This can enter the picture when the interaction will not be personal at all, but when you are developing an estate plan, you are covering very sensitive territory.
We are fully aware of this dynamic, and our attorneys have been assisting clients for many years. It is easy for us to put ourselves into the shoes of our clients, and we treat other people the way that we would like to be treated if the roles were reversed.
You can’t fake sincerity, and you will recognize our honest commitment to your well-being when you interact with our attorneys and team members. Our goal is to help you enjoy your senior years in comfort as you take the right steps to preserve your legacy.
Another reason for the unpreparedness is a misconception about legal fees. Many people think that it is extremely expensive to work with an attorney to develop an estate plan that may involve the utilization of a trust, but this is simply not the case.
Many of our clients are pleasantly surprised by our fee structure, and the appropriate legal assistance should be viewed as an investment that can save your family money in the long run.
Personalized Attention
There are many different estate planning approaches that can be taken, and the optimal way to proceed will depend upon the circumstances.
When you choose our firm, we will make sure that you understand your options so you can make fully informed decisions. We will also explain the potential impact of long-term care costs and suggest a nursing home asset protection strategy that can be part of the overall plan.
Attend a Complimentary Seminar!
We conduct seminars on an ongoing basis that provide information about important elder care planning and estate planning topics. The sessions are very well received, and they are held at convenient, comfortable locations in our service areas.
You can see the upcoming dates if you visit our seminar schedule page, and when you identify the session that works for you, follow the instructions to register.
Need Help Now?
If you have determined that it is time to put a plan in place, we can help. You can schedule a consultation at our Glastonbury or Westport, CT estate planning offices if you call us at 860-548-1000. There is also a contact form on this site you can use if you would rather send us a message.
Mr. Nirenstein is licensed to practice before the courts of the State of Connecticut and the United States District Court. He is a member of the Connecticut and Hartford County Bar Associations, and the Estate and Probate, Elder Law, Business Law and Real Estate Sections of the Connecticut Bar Association.
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