Estate Planning & Wills

Pittsburgh-Area Estate-Planning Lawyers

Although everyone should have a will, no one can predict when it will be needed. Our attorneys at Paladin Law Offices, PC, have found that people are uncomfortable talking about dying. This prevents them from doing what they want to do, which is to arrange their affairs to benefit their survivors after their deaths.

An Estate Plan Can and Should Be Changed

Our attorneys have many years of experience helping people get past their discomfort about the topic, turning the process of making a will into a positive experience. Some people have been hesitant to formalize their intentions because they believe they are committed forever. We let them know that a will can and should be modified as children grow up, as families change, and as charitable interests develop. To discuss making a will or establishing a trust, contact our western Pennsylvania law firm. We welcome clients from the greater Pittsburgh area, including Allegheny County and Westmoreland County.

Estate-Planning Services

When our lawyers meet with clients to begin the estate-planning process, they walk people through matters such as:

• Choosing a guardian for minor children
• Selecting someone to hold a durable power of attorney and a power of attorney for health care (sometimes known as an advance directive or health care proxy)
• Drawing up trust documents such as a minor's trust for children, a pour-over trust, or a living trust
• Drafting a will indicating how the estate will be distributed
• Indicating an executor or personal representative
• Drawing up a living will to indicate preferences for end-of-life care

The Benefits of an Estate Plan, Will, or Trust

We discuss the estate-planning options available to clients and talk about the pros and cons of each. With a well-developed estate plan, individuals can help their heirs and family members after they die, eliminating confusion and preventing will contests. Some types of trusts can eliminate or reduce inheritance taxes or estate taxes, saving money for the beneficiaries. We discuss these options and more with our clients. Having all the information available to them helps them make decisions about the disposition of their assets.

Do Not Leave Asset Distribution to a Court

We tell our clients that it is far better for them, their heirs, and the value of their estate to make plans in advance. The alternative, leaving decisions about the distribution of assets to the court, is messy, confusing, and potentially more expensive.

Do not put off writing a will. For information on this important part of planning for the future, contact our Penn Hills law firm. We welcome clients from throughout the region, including those from Aspinwall, Greensburg, and West Mifflin.