Law doesn’t always have to be reactive. At Zweig Law PC, Attorneys at Law, our attorneys help you take proactive steps to protect yourself and your family from any challenges that may appear down the road.
By helping you draft marital agreements that secure your assets and your loved ones, we can help you avoid the costs that an unexpected death or family dispute may bring in the future. While many people don’t think they need these agreements in place, we find that they are well worth the investment now, before something goes wrong.
Get The Documents You Need, Done Right
Estate plans don’t need to be complicated. While an elaborate, personalized estate plan may be beneficial, simple estate plans are a great place to start — especially for young couples who don’t have many assets. We can help you set up a last will and testament, as well as powers of attorney so that you are well-prepared when a crisis strikes.
Marital agreements are of equal importance. If there are particular assets you would like to exclude from your marital property, a prenuptial agreement can benefit you and your spouse.
Comprehensive Counsel, You Can Rely On
Our goal as lawyers is to make sure you are well-prepared for your next chapter in life, whether that means negotiating a favorable divorce settlement, reducing your criminal charges, or preparing legal paperwork to protect your rights in the future. No matter the issue, we work closely with you to provide the support you need to reach your goals.
Call our office in Breckenridge at 970-986-6863 to begin discussing your legal needs, or contact us online for more information.
Frequently Asked Estate Planning Questions for Married Couples
Our estate planning lawyer at Zweig Law PC, Attorneys at Law, will tell you that various life changes should trigger people to either develop an estate plan, create a new one, or make updates. When two people get married, it’s an appropriate time to establish an estate plan together. Working with a lawyer will be in your best interest as they can advise you over critical estate planning decisions. It’s only natural that you will have various questions regarding the estate planning process, and our team can assist you in providing the answers and developing a plan.
Should a married couple have a joint estate plan?
Whether you and your spouse develop joint or separate estate plans will largely depend upon the state you live in and your specific situation. For example, if this is your first marriage, it may be in your best interest to develop an estate plan together. However, if you have been married before or have children from other marriages, you may want to consider carefully weighing your options. To make decisions over how to move forward, it will be essential to understand both separate and jointly owned property. In some cases, separate property that was agreed upon as separate before the marriage may be incorporated within a prenuptial agreement. If there are assets that you owned before the marriage that you would like to keep independent, a prenuptial agreement may be appropriate and can be a valuable estate planning tool. However, in many cases, couples may choose to develop an estate plan together without such an agreement in place.
Why is it essential to have an estate plan in place after you are married?
When engaging in basic estate planning, having marital agreements in place is critical should anything happen to either one of you. Should one of you become incapacitated or pass away, an estate plan outlines your wishes and how assets should be distributed to beneficiaries. Estate plans are critical for planning for the future and, if you have children, you will also outline a plan for their care.
What preparation should married couples do before meeting with an estate planning lawyer?
To ensure the most fluid and straightforward process, it will be a good idea to prepare before meeting with an estate planning lawyer. As a couple, you should begin to have preliminary discussions over your wishes regarding who should be appointed to care for your children and resolve your estate. In most cases, couples developing an estate together select the other spouse to manage the estate should you pass away. However, it would be best if you still had another plan should something unexpected happen to both of you. Additionally, gather all information that includes your assets and liabilities, an inventory of personal property, and consider who should make financial and medical decisions if you cannot do so.
Do my partner, and I have to be married to have an estate plan together?
When a couple is not married but shares assets or lives together, estate planning is more critical than ever. When there is no estate plan in place, couples who are not married cannot inherit assets or make end of life decisions. While there are laws in place to protect married couples should this occur, there are none to protect partners who are not married.
Established in 2015, our firm offers extensive experience in managing matters of the estate planning process. At Zweig Law PC, Attorneys at Law, we will work diligently to provide our clients with the help they need when planning for the future. For guidance in developing basic estate planning and marital agreements, please don’t delay in scheduling an appointment by calling our office today.