Estate Planning

Planning Peace of Mind

Do you know right now what will happen to your assets when you pass on? Who will take care of your minor children? Will others be able to clearly understand what all of your wishes were?

Reeder Plachta Murphy has helped clients just like you create estate plans with speed, confidence, and clarity. We will ensure your planning accurately and comprehensively lays out everything you want settled before and after your passing, providing peace of mind not just for you, but your family as well.

The hard parts are ours to handle. You can spend more time and focus on what matters most in your life.

Create an Estate Plan Now

Once you become an adult, there is no time too soon to create your estate plan. We perform estate planning for clients in all walks of life, and keep them promptly updated when changes such as marriage, divorce, children, health changes, and retirement enter the picture.

Do you Have a Plan Prepared For…

Marriage

Getting married is often a commitment to trusting your spouse and making decisions together. Estate planning will ensure:

  • Your spouse or family members are legally authorized to make important decisions for you if you are ever in a position where you are unable to make them yourself.
  • Inheritances are distributed properly without confusion or contestation. 
  • Tax burdens and unexpected surprises are limited when leaving retirement and life insurance funds to your spouse or family members.

Your New Family

Your children are the most priceless asset you will ever have, and estate planning will ensure they are best cared for if the unthinkable happens:

  • Decide who will care for your children if you are gone. Direct caretaking and financial support may come from different sources, and any special needs should be expertly planned and prepared for.
  • Determine at what age or ages your children receive their inheritance, including finances and real property.
  • Ensure everything is properly set up for distribution, when it will be distributed, and who will receive it.
  • Update planning in the case of remarriage after divorce or the death of a spouse.
  • Ensure you can still make certain decisions on behalf of your children once they turn 18.

Divorce

A divorce does not need to be any more painful than it already is. Clear estate planning will keep many matters settled and avoid future arguments:

  • Update planning to ensure an ex-spouse does not have access to certain assets you do not wish them to have.
  • Update your children’s inheritance planning to change the level of control an ex-spouse may have over it.
  • Change the party responsible for medical and financial decisions if you are ever incapacitated.

Retirement

Your hard work has culminated to this point. Make sure everything you have built and saved is protected by an estate plan:

  • Determine who will receive your assets after you are gone – family, friends, charities, or charitable organizations.
  • Limit taxes and restrictions on your distributions. We’ll be happy to guide you!
  • Plan efficiently and effectively for assisted living or long-term care, if necessary.

The Death of a Loved One

The passing of a spouse, family member, or friend can bring significant changes. Make sure your new or current estate plan accurately reflects:

  • Any inheritance you may have received from your loved one.
  • New choices for power of attorney, medical patient advocate, and other important decisions in your Estate Plan, if your loved one had been designated as such.

And if you are the Personal Representative/Executor of your loved one’s Will, or are uncertain about how their own estate planning should proceed, we can provide you guidance.

Your Single Life

If you are single and self-sufficient, that does not mean you don’t need an estate plan! Make sure your loved ones know:

  • Who should make decisions on your healthcare and finances if you can’t.
  • Who should receive your assets if you pass.
  • What specific wishes you have for your belongings, funeral arrangements, and other matters.

Not only can you ensure your wishes are fulfilled properly, but you will be saving your loved ones plenty of anxiety about whether they’re doing the right thing!

Secure the Future with Estate Planning

The cost of preparing a customized estate plan is less than you might think, and certainly less than that of unnecessary probate litigation. A clear will and planning will also help prevent potential in-fighting and confusion among your loved ones after you’re gone. You can’t set a price on the emotional benefits of that!

We will gladly discuss your future and guide you on every step of creating a comfortable and legally sound estate plan. Schedule an appointment at our Grand Rapids office by calling (616) 458-3994 or by filling out our online contact form.