Steven M. Heinl - Attorney

Probate is the court-supervised process of validating a decedent’s will if they have one, gathering and valuing their assets, identifying and settling their debts, and, ultimately, distributing their estate to their chosen beneficiaries or heirs as determined by law. There are compelling reasons to implement an estate plan that allows assets to avoid probate. Probate can turn a deeply personal matter into a public proceeding during an already difficult and grief-filled time. The most common tools used by my clients are creation of a revocable trust, payable-on-death designations, and lifetime gifting. An estate plan is not a ‘one size fits all’ proposition. Each client has their own goals and family dynamics.

If it has been 5 years or more since you had your estate planning documents prepared, then you are due for a review of those documents. I help families understand their options and achieve their goals for asset transfers upon death and/or incapacity. The process can be relatively painless, and my clients feel a sense of relief in knowing that they have a complete and updated estate plan in place. For more information, contact me at [email protected] or (410)260-6593 to get started.