Estate Planning
Estate Planning Attorney in Glastonbury, CT
A solid estate plan isn’t just about what happens to your stuff. It’s about making sure the people you love are taken care of and that your wishes are actually followed rather than guessed at.
What’s the Difference Between a Will and a Trust?
A will and a trust both help you control what happens to your property, but they work differently. A will takes effect after you pass away and goes through Connecticut’s probate court before your assets are distributed. A trust, particularly a revocable living trust, can hold and manage your assets during your lifetime and pass them directly to your beneficiaries afterward, often without going through probate at all.
Whether a trust actually avoids probate in Connecticut depends on how it’s set up and funded. A trust that isn’t properly funded with your assets won’t do much good, which is one of the most common mistakes Sam sees when reviewing plans other people have started on their own.
Do You Need a Will, a Trust, or Both?
Whether you need a will, a trust, or both depends on your family, your assets, and your goals. If you own property in more than one state, have a blended family, want to avoid probate, or want more control over how and when beneficiaries receive assets, a trust may make sense alongside your will. Many estate plans use a pour-over will alongside a trust, which catches any assets left out of the trust and directs them into it after death.
Documents
Powers of Attorney and Beneficiary Designations
A power of attorney lets someone you trust make financial decisions on your behalf if you’re unable to. It’s different from a living will, which addresses your health care wishes and end-of-life decisions rather than your finances. Most complete estate plans include both, along with an appointment for a health care representative.
Beneficiary designations on accounts such as retirement plans and life insurance policies often override what your will says, which is why Sam reviews them as part of every estate plan. An outdated beneficiary designation is one of the most common and avoidable estate planning mistakes.
Guardianship
Choosing a Guardian for Your Children
If you have minor children, naming a guardian is one of the most important decisions in your estate plan. Without a named guardian, Connecticut’s probate court decides who raises your children if something happens to you, which is a decision most parents would rather make themselves.
Cost & Timing
What Estate Planning Costs, and When to Update Your Plan
Estate planning costs vary based on how complex your situation is and which documents you need. Sam talks through pricing upfront during your initial consultation so there are no surprises. Once your plan is in place, it’s worth reviewing it every few years or after any major life change, including marriage, divorce, the birth of a child, a move, or a new business or property.
Blended Families
Estate Planning for Blended Families
Blended families often need more thoughtful planning than a standard will can offer. Sam works with remarried couples and stepfamilies to build plans that provide for a current spouse while still protecting what you want to leave to children from a previous relationship.
Getting Started
What Happens If You Die Without a Will in Connecticut
If you die without a will in Connecticut, state law decides who inherits your property, and it may not match what you would have wanted. Your estate goes through probate under Connecticut’s intestacy rules, which follow a fixed order of relatives regardless of your actual wishes or relationships.
Your Estate Planning Documents
Most complete estate plans include a will, a financial power of attorney, a health care directive, and an up-to-date list of beneficiary designations. Depending on your goals, a revocable living trust and a pour-over will may round things out.
- Will
- Financial power of attorney
- Health care directive
- Beneficiary designations (up to date)
- Revocable living trust + pour-over will (if applicable)
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is a Revocable Living Trust?
A revocable living trust is a legal arrangement that holds your assets during your lifetime and can be changed or dissolved at any point while you’re alive. When properly funded, it can pass assets directly to your beneficiaries without going through probate in Connecticut.
What Is a Power of Attorney?
A power of attorney is a document that authorizes someone you trust to make financial decisions on your behalf if you become unable to do so yourself. It’s one of the core documents in a complete estate plan.
What Is a Beneficiary Designation?
A beneficiary designation names who receives a specific account or policy, such as a retirement plan or life insurance policy, directly upon your death. These designations typically override instructions in your will, which is why keeping them up to date matters.
What Documents Make Up a Complete Estate Planning Checklist?
Most complete plans include a will, a financial power of attorney, a health care directive, an up-to-date list of beneficiary designations, and, depending on your goals, a revocable living trust paired with a pour-over will.
Do I Need an Estate Planning Attorney, or Can I Use an Online Template?
Online templates can work for the most basic situations, but they rarely account for Connecticut-specific probate rules, blended families, business interests, or larger estates. An estate planning attorney helps make sure your plan actually holds up and does what you intend.
Let’s Build Your Plan
Whether you’re starting from scratch or updating an outdated plan, Sam can walk you through your options and build something that actually fits your family.