A considerable amount of thought and planning will undoubtedly go into the creation of your comprehensive estate plan. Consequently, you should put the same amount of thought into choosing an estate planning attorney to help you create your plan. The estate planning attorneys and staff at Nirenstein, Horowitz & Associates, P.C. understand how important your estate plan is to you and to those you love. With that in mind, we are committed to helping you create a Stonington, Connecticut estate plan that protects both your material wealth and your loved ones.
Stonington, Connecticut
Located in the southeastern corner of the state, in New London County, you will find the town of Stonington, Connecticut. Stonington covers approximately 50 square and had 18,545 residents as of the 2010 Census.
Prior to the arrivals of Europeans the area now known as Stonington was inhabited by the Pequot people. The town’s history, however, goes back to the middle of the 17th century when, in 1649, European colonists established a trading house in the Pawcatuck section of the fledgling town. When it was still part of Massachusetts, the town was referred to as “Souther Towne” or Southerton. In 1662, when Connecticut became a state, Southerton was renamed “Mistick.” The town finally settled on its “forever name” of Stonington, meaning “stony town,” in 1666.
During the 18th century, Stonington was known for its harbor which was home to a fleet of ships engaged in the profitable seal hunting trade. The town is also known as the home of the Stonington Harbor Light. Erected in 1823, it was the first lighthouse established by the federal government. The town continued to support a sizeable enough fishing, whaling, and sealing fleet that it was made a port of entry in 1842. The small granite Customs House can still be found facing Main Street today.
Like many towns with a history dating back to colonial times, Stonington has a number of historic buildings and sites that visitors don’t want to miss. Since the turn of the 21st century, Stonington has also undergone a revitalization with many new home owners using historic Stonington Borough houses as second homes.
Nirenstein, Horowitz & Associates, P.C. in the Stonington Community
At Nirenstein, Horowitz & Associates, P.C. we have dedicated our practice to the issues we feel matter most to our friends and neighbors – protecting yourself, your assets, and your loved ones through the creation of a comprehensive estate plan. Working with the right estate planning attorney is crucial to the creation of that plan. Knowing how difficult it can be to discuss highly personal financial and family matters with a virtual stranger though is one of the many reasons why we strive to create lifelong relationships with our Stonington, Connecticut estate planning clients.
The estate plan you create today will not be the estate plan you need in ten years because you won’t be the same person in ten years. The changes that occur in your life will precipitate corresponding changes to your estate plan to ensure that your estate plan remains relevant. Initially, a simple Last Will and Testament may suffice to ensure that you don’t leave behind an intestate estate in the event of your sudden death. As both your family and your estate grow, however, your estate plan will need to be updated to take those changes into account. A spouse and/or children will prompt you to consider adding incapacity planning to your estate plan as well as to make beneficiary and fiduciary changes to your plan. You may also decide to create a trust to protect the inheritance you plan to leave your minor children. Incapacity planning will also need to become part of your overall plan. The growth of your estate itself may also require you to incorporate asset protection and tax avoidance tools and strategies into your plan. Additional goals such as probate avoidance may also become important to you. As retirement looms on the horizon, long-term care and Medicaid planning should be incorporated into your estate plan unless you can afford the high cost of long-term care out of pocket. If you have strong beliefs with regard to end of life care, a living Will and/or an advance directive should also be part of your estate plan. Funeral and burial planning should also be included in your estate plan if you want to ensure that your wishes are honored after you are gone. Your unique needs, such as LGBTQ estate planning, business succession planning, or special needs planning will also be incorporated into your estate plan to create a unique plan that reflects your needs and accomplishes all your goals.
Our goal at Nirenstein, Horowitz & Associates, P.C. is to be with you throughout your life’s journey and help ensure that the people and things that are important to you are protected at all times.
Contact Us
If you have additional questions or concerns about estate planning, or wish to get started on your plan, contact the experienced Stonington, Connecticut estate planning lawyers at Nirenstein, Horowitz & Associates, P.C. by calling (860) 548-1000 to schedule an appointment.
( By appointment only )