Wills and Estates

Everybody needs a will. Attorney William S. Winfrey II advises all of his clients to create a will. He has more than 30 years of experience crafting wills, trusts and other estate planning documents.

Wills

A will allows you to delineate exactly where you want your money to go. A will is the only document that allows you to leave money to a charity or to specify that certain items should go to certain people. If you are living with but are not married to your partner, a will is the only way to ensure that your assets pass to your partner. Lastly, if you have minor children and you want to nominate someone to become their guardian in case you pass away before they grow up, you will need a will. Without a will, the court will decide who takes care of your children.

Trusts

Trusts have many benefits. Through a trust, families can avoid disclosing the distribution of the estate to the public. Additionally, trusts are beneficial for federal estate tax planning. Lastly, if you have a beneficiary who you believe may spend the money too quickly, placing the money in a trust is a viable option for avoiding that scenario.

Special needs trusts protect individuals with disabilities from being disqualified from receiving Social Security benefits.

There are times when a trust is unnecessary. As a Mercer County will and estate attorney, Mr. Winfrey works closely with his clients to determine their needs. If a trust is unnecessary, he will advise you to choose a will instead.

Powers of Attorney, Living Wills and Advance Medical Directives

There may come a time when you are unable to make decisions on your own. To ensure that your wishes are carried out even when you are unable to express them, you must have the proper documents in place beforehand.

Powers of attorney allow you to choose someone to manage your financial affairs and make medical decisions on your behalf and help avoid the confusion that can arise in families when each family member assumes that he or she should be in charge.

Simply put, estate planning not only protects you – it also protects your family.

Contact William S. Winfrey II

The first step toward achieving the peace of mind that comes with a valid estate plan is to contact a lawyer. Mr. Winfrey‘s office is in Mercer County, West Virginia, and can be reached at 304-716-4344. You may also contact him via email.