An Experienced Hand In Planning For The Future

Estate planning, probate and estate administration are things that will eventually appear in nearly everyone’s life, yet most of us know very little about them. Instead of trying to take these matters on by yourself, you can rely on the guidance and knowledge of an experienced estate planning law firm.

At The Blackwell Law Firm, our Pennsylvania attorneys have been helping clients throughout the Pittsburgh area since 1991. We are here to answer your estate planning and probate questions, lead you through your process, and keep things swift and simple.

How You Can Look After Your Heirs

Many people assume estate planning is only for the incredibly wealthy, but the truth is that anyone can benefit from it. Through estate planning, you can create wills and trusts to specify who in your life can receive what assets you give them at or before your passing. This kind of planning can help you control when and how your loved ones receive their inheritance, setting them up for success in the process.

Without an estate plan in place, your assets will go to probate, which is the government process of resolving an estate. The process the government uses for estate administration may place your assets into the wrong hands, which is why you want to make your last wishes official as soon as possible.

What Estate Planning Can Do For You

A proper estate plan can benefit you before you pass on as well as after your passing. We can work with you to create a personalized plan that includes:

• Wills and trusts to give your money, heirlooms, real estate and other assets to your appointed beneficiaries. Wills are mostly relevant after your passing, but trusts can be customized to disperse an inheritance before your passing and also mitigate inheritance taxes.
• Health care directives to clarify your medical wishes when you are not physically or mentally able to act on your own behalf. This step can specify your wishes regarding organ donation, how long you want to remain on life support, what medical procedures you do not want, and other medical specifications.
• Appoint a power of attorney to act on your behalf while you are alive and an executor of your estate when you pass away. These appointees need to be someone you can trust to uphold your wishes when you cannot.

Proper planning can keep your loved ones from having to guess what you wanted, preventing years or a lifetime of infighting and grudges in the process.

Start Planning Today

Whether you have an estate plan that needs updating, you do not have an estate plan at all, or you need help with an estate after a loved one’s passing, we can help. Call us at 412-391-5299 or reach out to us online to schedule your initial consultation today.