Middlebury Wills Lawyer

Middlebury Wills Attorney

Middlebury is a charming suburban town in New Haven County with a rich history and an affluent local community. While many people may find it difficult to think about end-of-life planning, it’s an essential consideration and never too soon to start. A Middlebury wills lawyer is an ideal resource if you want to start developing a comprehensive estate plan that will benefit your family in the future.

Skilled Legal Counsel for Wills in Middlebury, CT

The Middlebury estate planning lawyers at Burns Thomas, LLC, can provide comprehensive legal guidance for your estate planning. A will is often considered the cornerstone of any estate plan. When you create a will, you are leaving instructions behind for your family to follow after your death. You can dictate how you want your property distributed to your beneficiaries and include various provisions that address your family’s unique dynamics.

When you choose Burns Thomas, LLC, to help you with estate planning, we can assist you in drafting a will that is as comprehensive and legally enforceable as possible. Do not make the mistake of assuming you can write your own will without legal advice, or that any of the software programs available that claim to help you do it yourself will be reliable.

Proper will creation can provide clarity and peace of mind to your family during your estate administration. We can help you draft a will that minimizes the chance for disputes, and we can also provide guidance for further customizing your estate plan to help your family avoid as much of the probate process as possible.

Creating Your Will in Middlebury

Recent surveys reported that only about 32% of Americans have estate plans as of 2024. Some people mistakenly believe they do not own enough property to necessitate a will. Others simply procrastinate or find thinking about end-of-life planning uncomfortable. Some do not understand the importance of having a will to help their family avoid probate.

When a person dies in Connecticut without a will or any type of estate plan in place, their estate becomes intestate and must go through the probate process. The probate court will review the contents of the deceased’s estate, assess their outstanding debts, and calculate the value of all remaining assets and property. The court then distributes the remaining estate contents according to Connecticut’s intestate succession laws.

These laws are quite strict and, unfortunately, can open the door for disputes to arise among surviving family members. The probate court will not take family dynamics into consideration, so some surviving members of the family may disagree with the court’s decisions for dividing the decedent’s assets.

It is also possible for disputes to arise even if the decedent had a will. A family member may challenge its validity, or they may claim that the decedent was not of sound mind when it was created and/or that another beneficiary coerced them. When you work with a Middlebury wills lawyer at Burns Thomas, LLC, we can help your family avoid as many of these potential disputes as possible and enable a smoother estate administration process.

Ultimately, creating a will is just one element of an estate plan. You may have more options than you expect for leaving property to your beneficiaries, and a robust estate plan could include a trust, an advanced care directive to tell your family what level of medical care you want to receive in an emergency, and a power of attorney that enables a trusted representative to make legally binding decisions on your behalf.

Reach out to Burns Thomas, LLC, as soon as possible to learn more about the benefits of creating your will with the help of an experienced Middlebury estate planning lawyer. We can assist you in creating a will that meets your goals and provides your family with the peace of mind they will need during a difficult time.

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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The team at Burns Thomas, LLC, has the experience and skills required to help you create a legally enforceable will that can provide your family peace of mind after your death. Do not assume you aren’t wealthy enough for estate planning or that it’s too soon to start. Contact us today to schedule a consultation with a Middlebury wills lawyer and learn how we can help.