Estate Planning Attorneys in Lee’s Summit, MO
Thorough estate planning is essential to protecting your assets. At Chinnery Evans & Nail, P.C., our estate planning attorneys in Lee’s Summit, MO provide personalized guidance to help you create a plan that brings clarity, security, and peace of mind
What is Estate Planning?
Many see estate planning as simply “getting a will,” “funding a trust,” or “naming a power of attorney.” Estate planning involves organizing and coordinating a person’s assets and affairs during life as well as after death.
Ultimately, estate planning is about creating a clear, personalized strategy that protects your life belongings and provides peace of mind for you and your family.
Estate Planning Legal Services
Estate planning is a comprehensive process that our estate planning attorneys in Lee’s Summit, MO aim to make simple for each client. To ensure your possessions are transferred to the people and causes you love, our estate planning attorneys help our clients with the following:
Evaluating Best Planning Tools
We believe an estate plan should maximize the preservation of assets for the intended beneficiaries while minimizing unnecessary taxes, delays, and administrative costs. By carefully selecting the most effective planning tools, our estate planning attorneys can simplify the transfer of assets and reduce the burdens often associated with settling an estate.
Creating Different Tailored Types of Trusts
Proper use and implementation of a trust can result in creatively and effectively passing assets to beneficiaries without probate or court involvement. In addition, the trusts our estate attorneys prepare may address a host of client needs related to estate and gift tax planning, asset protection, and a special needs beneficiary.
Drafting Wills
Executed either in tandem with a trust or as a standalone document, a will is essential for ensuring your wishes are carried out. It allows you to clearly designate guardians for minor children, identify who will manage your estate, and ensure your assets are distributed to the individuals and causes you care about. Our will attorneys in Lee’s Summit work with clients to draft wills that provide clarity and reduce uncertainty.
Drafting Powers of Attorney
A Power of Attorney allows you to appoint someone you trust to make financial and/or healthcare decisions on your behalf in the event of a disability. Our estate lawyers in Lee’s Summit draft powers of attorney in order to help our clients preserve their dignity and independence by ensuring that important decisions, both medical and non-medical, are handled according to their wishes.
Advising Beneficiary Designations
Beneficiary designations are often the simplest way of transferring assets at death without the use of the probate process. However, if not done correctly or with the overall estate plan in mind, a beneficiary designation can result in unintended consequences. Our estate attorneys in Lee’s Summit help clients with various types of assets, such as IRAs, 401(k)s, ESOPs (Employee Stock Ownership Plans), pensions, and life insurance, to navigate their choices and make sure their end goals match up with the designations they use to meet their objectives.
Retitling Assets
An estate plan may not be effective without the proper titling of assets. At Chinnery Evans & Nail, P.C. our estate attorneys provide guidance and assistance, when requested, as a client retitles accounts, real estate, vehicles, and other personal property.
Our Estate Planning Attorneys’ Credentials and Awards
At Chinnery Evans & Nail, P.C., our estate planning attorneys in Lee’s Summit, MO collectively hold the following achievements and memberships, reflecting both their experience and commitment to serving our estate planning clients with excellence:
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Author of Estate Planning for the Family Business Owner, published by the AICPA
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Author of chapters on Estate Planning for Business Owners and Retirement Plan Distributions for Missouri Estate Planning published by the Missouri Bar
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Greater Kansas City Estate Planning Society
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Kansas City Estate Planning Symposium's Board of Directors
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Kansas City Estate Planning Symposium's Board of Directors, Past Chair
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Kansas City Estate Planning Symposium's Committee for Estate Planning Fundamentals, Past Co-chair
Contact Our Estate Attorneys in Lee’s Summit, MO
It’s a comforting feeling knowing you have everything in place for unexpected tragedies. If you have any questions about estate planning or aren’t sure where to start, contact our estate planning attorneys in Lee’s Summit, MO, and we’ll help give you peace of mind.
Estate Planning Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the benefit of estate planning?
Estate planning provides peace of mind by ensuring your wishes are clearly documented and legally enforceable. It helps protect your assets, provide for your loved ones, minimize taxes and legal complications, and designate trusted individuals to make decisions on your behalf if you become unable to do so. A well-crafted plan also reduces stress and potential conflict for your family during difficult times.
When should I plan my estate?
It’s honestly never too early to plan your estate, so the answer is now! Estate planning is an ongoing process that should evolve as your life changes.
Can I create an estate plan without an attorney?
While it is possible to create basic estate plans on your own, estate laws can be complex and doing so can lead to costly mistakes or unintended consequences. Working with our estate lawyers in Lee’s Summit, MO ensures your plan is tailored, legally sound, and aligned with your goals.
What happens if I die without a will?
If you die without a will, the court will appoint an administrator to handle your estate and your estate will be distributed according to Missouri’s intestacy laws, which may not reflect your personal wishes. At Chinnery Evans & Nail, P.C., our will attorneys in Lee’s Summit can help you draft a will that protects your wishes and your loved ones.
Meet Our Estate Planning Attorneys
We have a wonderful team who are here to help and ready to provide legal counsel. Are you ready to meet your team of qualified estate lawyers, will attorneys, and incredible support staff in Lee’s Summit, MO?
Get Started
Are you ready to get started with Chinnery Evans & Nail? If so, the next step is to reach out so we can setup an initial consultation with an attorney to discuss your needs and how we may assist.
