Lehighton & Carbon County Wills & Probate Attorney
Wills, Durable Powers of Attorney, and Living Will
The purpose of a will is to direct how your property will be distributed after your death. In your will, you will name a personal representative, an executor (male) or executrix (female), to administer your probate estate according to your instructions. Without a will (or passing intestate), means that state law governs the disposition of all your property regardless of your wishes. Having a will can ensure that your property is being distributed according to your wishes, whether to family members, close friends, or to a specific charity.
For those with minor children under the age of 18, a will is an important document to have because you can establish a trust for any property to be given to your children and name a personal representative as a trustee to provide for your child’s general welfare in the future. You can also name a guardian in your will to raise your children in the event of your death.
In addition to a will, most people often elect to also establish a durable power of attorney to make sure their financial affairs are taken care of in the event of a serious medical issue, such the onset of Alzheimer’s disease. A durable power of attorney is a written document whereby you name a personal representative, called an agent, to hand certain specified types of transactions on your behalf, including but not limited to, real estate transactions, health care decisions, and financial decisions. In the event of an unforeseen accident resulting in protracted hospitalization, a financial power of attorney can ensure that your agent can pay your mortgage and other monthly expenses on time while you focus on recovery.
Please do not hesitate to contact Lehighton & Carbon County will & probate attorneys at the Law Offices of Adam R. Weaver, Esq., to learn more about whether you should obtain a will or durable power of attorney. Our law office provides reasonable and competitive prices for the preparation of such documents, including serving Jim Thorpe, Lehighton, Andreas, Weatherly, Summit Hill, Nesquehoning, Lansford, Albrightsville, and surrounding counties.
Probate Estate Administration
You do not need to go to the same attorney who wrote your family member’s will to have the probate estate administered. Normally, it is within the discretion of the executor or executrix on whether to hire a lawyer to assist with probate estate administration.
Lehighton & Carbon County wills & probate attorney Weaver has experience handling bankruptcy estate administration to parties entitled to receive distribution, which experience can assist in the proper administration of your family member or loved one’s probate estate. Should you find yourself as an executor or executrix of a probate estate, do not hesitate to contact Attorney Weaver, located in Lehighton, Pennsylvania, to review what your responsibilities and duties are to ensure the proper administration of the probate estate.
