Estate Planning

Will Beckum is an experienced estate planning lawyer in Birmingham, Alabama. Mr. Beckum assists individuals with all types of estate planning services from drafting simple wills and health care directives to preparing living trusts for more complicated estates. Beckum Law is dedicated to providing cost effective estate planning services to residents of Birmingham and throughout the State of Alabama.

Alabama Estate Planning

Most people want to have control over what happens with their property after their death. You want to choose who receives your property and make sure your wishes are carried out. You also want to ensure that our loved ones are protected from creditors and that the process is smooth and not burdensome. The goal of estate planning is to ensure that your assets are transferred to your family with the least amount of taxes, legal fees and court costs as possible. Occasionally, you may need something complicated, but most of the time you just want a simple and cost-effective plan that gives you with one less thing to worry about.

While most people are generally familiar with wills, proper estate planning not only allows you to direct the distribution of your assets when you die, but also to have a plan in place for managing your affairs if you become incapacitated or disabled. It can help ensure that your wishes are carried out with respect to health care if you are unable to express your choice at the time. Creating an estate plan can help your family members avoid misunderstanding and unnecessary expenses.

Although you do not have to hire an attorney to prepare an estate plan, consulting with a Birmingham estate planning attorney can eliminate the guesswork and streamline the process to ensure that your documents truly accomplish your goals. At Beckum Law, we can guide you through the process and ensure your estate and family’s inheritance are secure.

Beckum Law handles all types of estate planning matters in Birmingham and throughout Alabama. Our estate law practice includes drafting wills, health care directives, powers of attorney and living trusts. We take the time to get to know your goals and then apply a simple and cost-effective approach to ensure that your intent is achieved.

What is Involved in an Estate Plan?

Estate planning includes the drafting of wills, living trusts, and other types of planning documents. Our firm can help you determine which ones you need and prepare those that are necessary to protect your final wishes and the interests of your loved ones.

Will: This document helps you name any individuals you want to inherit part of your estate. It can also select a guardian for any minor children or identify an individual to handle their financial affairs. A will may be updated or modified at any time.

Durable power of attorney: In this document, you will appoint an agent (attorney-in-fact) to manage your finances if you were to become incapacitated. The powers are defined by the terms of the document. A power of attorney may be very broad or very limited and specific. A “durable” power of attorney is used to survive the death or incapacity of the individual appointing the attorney-in fact.

Advance (healthcare) directive: This document helps to inform others of your healthcare wishes if you were to become incapacitated and may include directives on what treatments to avoid. It is also important to complete an authorization to your medical providers to allow specified individuals to access your medical information.

If you are in need of an experienced Birmingham estate planning lawyer to assist you with safeguarding your family’s future, please contact Beckum Law today at 205-588-0699.