Hartford Wills and Trusts Lawyer

Hartford Wills and Trusts Attorney

Estate planning is a difficult subject for many people, but it’s a vital consideration if you want to eliminate uncertainty, provide financial security, and reduce the need for difficult probate proceedings for your family after your death. You may have more options for creating an estate plan than you expect, and a Hartford wills and trusts lawyer can assist you with creating the estate plan that is tailored to your wishes and preferences.

Experienced Legal Counsel for Wills and Trusts in Hartford, CT

The team at Burns Thomas, LLC has years of experience helping clients in Hartford and throughout Connecticut with estate planning. We know this is a challenging topic for many people, but taking time to develop an estate plan will be incredibly beneficial to your family after your death. Our Hartford estate planning lawyers can explain your options for customizing your plan, such as writing your will and establishing a trust.

The US Census reported that the population of Hartford was 122,129 as of July 2024, and 12.2% of the population was over the age of 65. While estate planning is a more pressing concern for older adults, it’s a good idea to start thinking about estate planning sooner rather than later. A recent 2025 survey reported that only 24% of Americans have a will, a decline from 33% in 2022.

We can not only help you draft a complete and legally enforceable will, but also explain the benefits of creating a trust. If a person dies without a will or a complete estate plan, their estate enters a long and difficult probate process, potentially meaning their loved ones will face months or even years of tedious legal proceedings before they receive any inheritance. A properly configured estate plan could help your family avoid probate entirely.

Understanding Wills in Connecticut

A will is a legal document that you can use to convey your final wishes to your family and explain how you wish to divide your property among your beneficiaries. While you may be able to develop the framework of what you want your will to include on your own, you need to hire a wills and trusts lawyer to make sure that the will is legally enforceable. Otherwise, your surviving family members may contest the will, and some may argue against its enforceability.

Your Hartford wills and trusts attorney can explain what your will must include and your options for customizing it. Additionally, once you create your will, your attorney can help you regularly review it, in case recent changes in your life need to be reflected in the will. Ideally, a properly configured and legally enforceable will eliminates any room for your family to argue over its contents, greatly expediting estate administration.

Creating a Trust in Hartford

One powerful legal tool at your disposal for estate planning is a trust. When you create a trust, the assets you include in the trust are removed from your legal ownership and become the property of the trust, placed in the care of a trustee you choose to administer the trust after your death.

There are two main types of trusts: revocable trusts and irrevocable trusts. A revocable trust allows you to make changes to it in the future, but it does not provide the same tax benefits as an irrevocable trust. An irrevocable trust provides greater tax advantages to your family, but it cannot be altered once created. A Hartford wills and trusts lawyer can explain which would be better for your situation and help you create it.

Wills and trusts are just two components of an estate plan, and you may have even more options that an experienced Hartford estate planning lawyer can explain. The team at Burns Thomas, LLC can help you create your estate plan with confidence, so reach out to our firm as soon as possible to learn more about our legal services.

Whether the best option for you is a comprehensive will, the establishment of trusts or other estate planning solutions, we will find a solution that fits your needs.

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FAQs

What Is the Most Common Mistake People Make With Their Wills?

The most common mistake people make with their wills is failing to regularly review them to see if there are any changes they must make. After your Hartford wills and trusts lawyer has helped you draft your will, you should take time to review it every year or two, and after any major life events. For example, if a new family member was recently born, you can amend your will to ensure they are included in your estate plan.

How Can a Will Be Unenforceable?

A will could be deemed unenforceable if it does not contain necessary signatures or if there is any evidence that the creator was not of sound mind when they created it. It is also possible for a beneficiary to challenge a will if they have evidence that another party exercised undue influence over the creator or the presence of any fraud or forgery. Hire a wills and trusts lawyer to help you create your will so you can have peace of mind knowing it is legally enforceable.

What Type of Trust Should I Create?

The type of trust you should create largely depends on your goals and intentions. If you create a revocable trust, this allows you to modify and amend it in the future, but does not protect the contents from creditors. An irrevocable trust provides greater protection from creditors, but you cannot alter it once it is made. A Hartford wills and trusts lawyer can explain the potential advantages of either option as they would apply to your situation.

Why Should I Hire a Wills and Trusts Lawyer?

You should hire a wills and trusts lawyer because you need experienced legal counsel to create these estate planning documents and make certain that they accomplish their intended purposes. Your Hartford wills and trusts lawyer can assist you with configuring all elements of your estate plan, and they can also help you review existing elements of your estate plan after recent life events. It is always important to have experienced legal counsel assist you with estate planning.

Contact An Experienced Hartford Wills and Trusts Lawyer Today

The team at Burns Thomas, LLC has helped many clients in Hartford and the surrounding communities of Connecticut with their estate plans, and we are confident we can assist you with creating a will and/or trust. It is never too early to start thinking about your estate plan, so contact us today and schedule your consultation with an experienced Hartford wills and trusts lawyer.