Estate Planning

Our estate planning attorneys help clients gain the peace of mind that comes from having a plan that clearly states how the assets they have earned will be passed on to those they love. We use a variety of planning tools to help each client establish an estate plan that achieves their goals while taking into consideration any tax consequences that may arise.

Wills and Trusts

Your Will is a legally binding statement of who will receive your property at your death. It also appoints a legal representative, an executor, to carry out your wishes. Your executor only acts upon your death. A Trust is an agreement under which money and other assets are held and managed by a trustee for the benefit of an individual. There are different types to trusts to achieve specific goals. Some estates may be more appropriate for a trust. Some of the factors to consider which type of planning tool to use include tax liabilities, blended families, family  members with disabilities or high net worth. The attorneys at Snyder, Park, Nelson & Schwiebert PC can help you decide which option is best for you.

Powers of Attorney

A power of attorney allows a trusted relative or friend to handle your affairs when you are unable to do so yourself. A health care power of attorney lets your agent make medical decisions, while a power of attorney for your property permits your agent to take care of your business and financial affairs. Powers of attorney delegate specific legal authority when predefined conditions arise. Our attorneys can help you think about and plan for your future needs.

Living will

This is a legal document stating your wishes regarding life support in the event you are in a terminal or irreversible condition which clarifies how you wish to be treated medically. We always recommend our clients establish a living will as part of a comprehensive estate plan.

Non-married partners

Non-married couples, whether LGBT or straight, present different estate planning challenges than married couples or individuals. Non-married partners have very little legal authority to make decisions for each other. Without clear direction from properly executed estate planning documents, non-married partners may have no say in health care decisions, financial decisions or end of life decisions for each other. The attorneys at Snyder, Park, Nelson & Schwiebert PC can help make sure this doesn’t happen to you.

Mark W. Schwiebert
Dee A. Runnels
Pamela M. Anderson
Cristy Tackett-Hunt
Melissa L. Uzzell