How to choose the best estate planning attorney in Grand Rapids
Our listings are a great way to begin research estate planning attorneys in Battle Creek. You can start by looking into each potential lawyer’s experience and expertise. If your loved one owns property in three different countries, their estate will be much more complicated than somebody who only has a couple of bank accounts. You should also consider price early on in the process. A basic will shouldn’t be too expensive to put together, but more complex estates can carry a significant price tag.
Next, we recommend asking promising candidates for recommendations or referrals from past clients. If an estate planning attorney in Grand Rapids is unable to provide such documentation, you can safely remove them from your shortlist. You might also want to contact the clients who provided the referral in case they were compensated for writing them. Finally, you should try to find a Grand Rapids estate planning attorney with a great personality. Your loved one will have frequent contact with them, so there should be a nice rapport there.
Facts and trends in Grand Rapids estate planning
How many seniors in Grand Rapids are participating in estate planning?
Most seniors say that they will get around to estate planning at some point, but that point doesn’t always come before it is too late. The following statistics from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) reveal how many seniors in the state of Michigan had some form of trust in 2014:
Number of Returns Filed for Complex Trust | Number of Returns filed for Simple Trust |
---|---|
37,628 | 19,744 |
A healthy number of seniors filed for trusts in Michigan that year, but sadly the vast majority did not. Estate planning services in Grand Rapids can help your loved one get their final wishes on paper and help ensure that heirs receive their inheritances promptly and with minimal family strife.
What are the reasons a senior in Grand Rapids might leave an inheritance for their family?
Your loved one’s children will probably be among the heirs to their estate, but did you ever think about why that would be the case? Seniors have many reasons to leave assets to their sons and daughters when they pass away, including a few discussed in the Age Wave/Merrill study below:
These reasons range from pragmatic to sentimental, and the truth is that there is no bad reason to bequeath anything to anybody. A Grand Rapids estate planning attorney can help your loved one work through who should receive what and announce their final wishes with confidence. We can help you find a qualified estate planning lawyer in Kalamazoo if you’re worried about the research.
What are the benefits of working with an estate planning law firm in Grand Rapids?
The biggest benefit of collaborating with a Grand Rapids estate planning attorney is that seniors get to choose exactly who receives their assets. If a charitable organization means a lot to your loved one, their lawyer can ensure that it receives one final donation from them when they pass away. Many seniors also get peace of mind from knowing that funeral expenses will be covered when they die so they are not placing any burden on their family members. An estate planning lawyer in Battle Creek can also help your loved one amend their wishes as often as they like so nothing is set in stone.
Estate planning solutions for Grand Rapids seniors
We know that estate planning can be a difficult conversation for everybody involved, but isn’t a little awkwardness today worth a lifetime of peace of mind knowing that your loved one’s assets will be distributed according to their wishes? Seasons makes it easy to find a great estate-planning lawyer, so please do not hesitate to use our resources.