Oxford Estate Planning Lawyer

Oxford Estate Planning Attorney

Oxford is a beautiful area in Connecticut, considered a great place to raise a family. While there is a large young population in Oxford, the US Census reports the median age of Oxford residents is 47, and nearly 20% of the population is over the age of 65. While it may be uncomfortable for some people to think about, it is never too soon to start developing an estate plan. An Oxford, CT, estate planning lawyer at Burns Thomas, LLC, can help you create your plan.

Understanding the Value of Estate Planning in Oxford, CT

When someone dies without an estate plan in place, they are considered “intestate,” and their assets and property are divided among their beneficiaries through the probate process according to Connecticut’s law of intestate succession.

Recent data shows that as of 2024, only about 32% of Americans have an estate plan, which is a 6% decline from 2023. Some people simply procrastinate, while others mistakenly believe that estate planning is unnecessary. Families in Oxford and throughout Connecticut benefit greatly when their loved ones create legally enforceable estate plans.

Probate is a notoriously stressful, expensive, and time-consuming process. Proper estate planning with the help of an Oxford, CT, estate planning lawyer is the most effective way to ensure your family can avoid probate. Considering the fact that probate can cost up to 10% of an estate’s total value, it is worth investing in reliable and experienced legal counsel to develop an estate plan that provides your family with peace of mind.

When you have an attorney craft your estate plan, it is possible to go into great detail in various ways. Your attorney can help you configure various elements of your estate plan, including:

• Personal representative designation: In many cases, the spouse of the estate owner acts as their personal representative, but everyone has different family dynamics. Your attorney can help you make your personal representative designation and even include second and third choices if the people you select are unable or unwilling to shoulder this responsibility.
• Your last will and testament: This document outlines how you want the contents of your estate distributed to your family members. A good attorney can help you draft this document in such a way as to minimize any uncertainty that may lead to disputes among your loved ones during estate administration.
• Trusts: Placing the contents of your estate into a trust can potentially allow your family to avoid probate entirely and/or provide estate tax benefits. Your Oxford, CT, estate planning lawyer at Burns Thomas, LLC, can help you understand your options for creating a trust and explain the benefits these documents can offer to your family.
• An advanced medical care directive: It stipulates the level of medical treatment you wish to receive in the event you enter palliative care or if you are unresponsive in a medical emergency.
• Power of attorney, which enables a personal representative you choose to make legally binding decisions on your behalf if you become unable to do so for yourself.

Ultimately, everyone has different needs, goals, and expectations when it comes to estate planning. Establishing a relationship with an Oxford, CT, estate planning lawyer can not only help you create the estate plan that’s right for you, but you can also rely on your attorney later if you need to modify elements of your estate plan as your life changes.

Burns Thomas, LLC, has extensive experience helping our clients in Oxford and surrounding areas of Connecticut with their estate plans, and we can leverage this experience on your behalf in creating a detailed and legally enforceable estate plan. Reach out to our firm today to learn more about the estate planning services we provide to Oxford, CT, clients.

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

The attorneys at Burns Thomas, LLC, have years of experience handling estate planning for clients in Oxford and surrounding communities of Connecticut. While thinking about your estate may be difficult, the reality is you are doing your loved ones a great service by taking the first step toward creating a legally enforceable estate plan. Contact us today to schedule a consultation with an experienced Oxford, CT, estate planning lawyer to get started.