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Estate Planning

Detail-Oriented Norwalk Estate Planning Lawyers Secure Your Legacy

Thorough Connecticut attorneys assist with wills, trusts and other instruments

When you’ve worked a lifetime amassing property and assets that you hope to leave to those you love, careful planning is essential. An experienced estate planning attorney can advise you of your options and help you establish an estate plan that accomplishes your goals. The lawyers of DePanfilis & Vallerie, LLC, in Norwalk, serving clients in Fairfield County and throughout Connecticut, assist with wills, trusts, advance directives, estate planning matters and estate administration in the Connecticut Probate Courts. We offer personal support and knowledgeable advice to help you preserve your legacy and protect your loved ones.

What is involved in the estate planning process?

When we meet with you to discuss your estate planning goals, we take the time to answer these and other questions:

  • To whom do you want to leave assets?
  • Who should be named the executor of your estate?
  • Are there any tough decisions to make, such as excluding someone from your will or trust?
  • Who do you want to make decisions about your medical care and finances if you become unable to do so yourself?
  • Do you wish to leave bequests to any organizations or causes?
  • Have you thought about the tax implications tied to certain assets?

As you can see, estate planning involves a lot of personal questions. After all, this process is an attempt to help others understand your priorities, which requires clear communication. The lawyers  at DePanfilis & Vallerie are sensitive to your needs and concerns and are committed to treating you with dignity and respect as we work together to create an estate plan that accomplishes your wishes.

Proven advocates assist with your last will and testament

For most people, a carefully crafted will is the foundation of the estate plan. You can use a will for many purposes: naming an executor, appointing a guardian for minor children and, of course, directing and distributing your assets after you’re gone. Our lawyers can prepare a new will for you or help you change an existing will using a codicil (an amendment) that reflects your true intent. The wills we create comply with all applicable Connecticut laws.

Skilled advisers help you secure your future with living wills and healthcare designations

Preparing for incapacity is not easy, but it is highly advisable and can be accomplished through advance healthcare directives. Through a living will, you can state your wishes regarding life support and lifesaving measures in the event that you cannot communicate them. You can also appoint a person you trust to make healthcare decisions on your behalf when you cannot. These legal documents offer peace of mind and also keep family members from having to make difficult decisions without knowing what you would have wanted. Our firm can assist with advance directives that clearly specify your wishes.

Knowledgeable counselors explain how a trust may be in your best interest

Trusts are created by grantors that give another party, the trustee, the right to hold title to property or assets for the benefit of a third party, the beneficiary. Grantors can also serve as trustees if they choose. Revocable trusts, such as living trusts, can be changed or dissolved at any time the grantor chooses; irrevocable trusts are essentially permanent, unchangeable arrangements. There are many types of trusts available in Connecticut, including:

  • Living trusts — Also called inter vivos trusts, these allow you to control and benefit from your assets while you’re alive and then have your assets distributed to your chosen beneficiaries when you die. The main benefit of a living trust is that it does not need to pass through probate.
  • Credit shelter trusts —Sometimes known as family trusts or bypass trusts, these instruments allow grantors to reduce or avoid estate taxes when passing on assets to beneficiaries.
  • Special needs trusts — Special needs trusts protect those receiving government benefits so that inheritances don’t deprive them of needed payments.
  • Asset protection trusts — These trusts protect assets from claims of future creditors.
  • Charitable trusts — Charitable trusts are created to benefit a charity of your choice or the public.
  • Pet trusts — Beloved family pets can be protected through trusts that provide for their care.
  • Generation-skipping trusts (GST) — With these trusts, grantors often choose to leave assets to grandchildren or younger heirs rather than their own children.

Our attorneys can advise you on whether a trust can accomplish your estate planning goals and help you set it up to meet your specific needs.

Contact our experienced Connecticut estate planning lawyers

The Norwalk lawyers of DePanfilis & Vallerie, LLC are ready to advise you on creating an estate plan that accomplishes your goals. We serve clients in Fairfield County and throughout Connecticut. To schedule a consultation with one of our estate planning attorneys, please call 203-846-9585 or contact us online.

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Office Location
  • Norwalk Office
    25 Belden Avenue
    Norwalk, Connecticut 06850
    Phone: 203-846-9585
    Fax: 203-847-2849
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