Estate Planning

Generally, everyone leaves behind assets when they pass away. At Schachte Law Group, a qualified Pennsylvania estate planning lawyer can provide you with assistance to help ensure your estate is protected from creditors, assessed the minimum tax rate and transfers to your loved ones without unnecessary trouble. Estate planning is about more than just creating a Will to declare what happens to your assets after you die.

Contact a qualified attorney in the Allegheny and Westmoreland County areas to learn what you should include in your estate plan and for assistance creating a comprehensive plan to secure your future financial security.

If you pass away before creating a last Will and Testament, intestacy laws will determine who inherits your property. This usually means your spouse and children inherit first, followed by more distant relatives if you are not married and do not have kids. Additionally, individuals who have been married more than once may need to take into account their ex-spouse’s estate.

Your estate can also be tangled up in the courts for a long time if there are questions about who inherits, and your family members may begin fighting over your assets if you do not have a clear estate plan. Even if you do not yet have children or believe you are too young for this concern to apply to you, it is never too early to begin estate planning.

A Westmoreland County estate planning lawyer will help you to create a will and take steps to ensure your wishes are respected. However, your attorney does so much more than just provide assistance with drafting a simple document expressing your wishes for after your death.

Your lawyer can help you to take care of other important planning steps. This includes providing details on what kinds of medical treatments you want to receive in the future or who should make your decisions for you if you become unable to act in your own best interests. Estate administration is crucial after planning, and an attorney can help alleviate some of these stressors.

Estate planning can also include things like creating a trust to protect your assets from creditors coming after you or your heirs, or even from the reach of the government if you want to qualify for Medicaid for nursing home care. Because every person’s situation is different, you should have a Pennsylvania estate planning lawyer provide you with guidance to develop your own unique plan.

At Schachte Law Group, your Westmoreland County estate planning attorney can assist you in preparing, modifying or reviewing any plan to ensure that it complies with your current intent and wishes.