Charleston, South Carolina Estate Planning Attorneys
Many people assume that estate planning is only relevant in their retirement years, as an added protective measure in the event of tragedy. However, estate planning is a valuable tool for any individual who owns assets, regardless of age. A comprehensive estate plan can help protect your property, preserve your legacy, ensure that your medical wishes are carried out if you become incapacitated, and safeguard your family from undesirable legal and financial consequences.
As a leading full-service law firm in South Carolina, Cobb, Dill & Hammett, LLC understands the importance of creating a comprehensive estate plan. By leveraging our expertise and experience with respect to South Carolina estate planning, our experienced attorneys are better able to tailor a plan that works for our clients. Whether you are looking to draft a Last Will & Testament, form a trust, craft power of attorney documents, ensure asset protection, or restructure your finances for long-term healthcare, our experienced and compassionate estate planning attorneys can ensure your legal and financial rights remain protected. Call us today at 843-936-6680 to learn more, and ensure your wishes are carried out.
What Is Estate Planning?
Estate planning is the preparatory measures taken to protect an individual’s finances, property, and assets in the event of incapacitation or death. In practice, estate planning is the creation of legal entities and/or documents that are used to distribute assets or dictate how specific situations will be managed under specific circumstances. A comprehensive estate plan will combine several different tools in order to fully and holistically protect a person’s estate. Some of these tools include:
- A Last Will & Testament
- Specific types of trusts: Inter vivos Trusts, Special Needs Trusts, QTIPs, etc.
- Irrevocable trusts/Revocable trusts
- Advanced healthcare directives
- Power of attorney documents
- Beneficiary, conservator, or guardianship designations
When an estate plan is crafted correctly, it can help avoid undesirable outcomes including the burdensome probate process or burdensome estate taxes. In turn, this can ease the financial challenges felt by any surviving loved ones.
Without having an estate plan in place, a person’s assets and property will be distributed according to South Carolina Code Section 62-2-101 to 103. The law follows a familial hierarchy structure, prioritizing the surviving spouse and children of the deceased. This structure may be against the wishes of a deceased individual. Without a legally executed estate plan, however, a person’s wishes will not be honored during estate distribution.
At Cobb, Dill & Hammett, LLC, we have experience handing all aspects of estate planning.
As a result, we offer a wide range of services, including:
- Creating and implementing will and trust documents
- Designating beneficiaries
- Crafting durable power of attorney documents
- Handling disputes regarding the estate
- Meeting with the relatives and loved ones of those involved in the estate plan
- Organizing the transfer of assets to rightful beneficiaries in a time-sensitive manner
- Presenting solutions to reduce the burden of fees and taxes
- Establishing restrictions on the estate, when necessary
- Managing retirement plans, life insurance policies, and contributions to charity
- Restructuring assets for Medicaid long-term care benefits
We Handle All Aspects of Estate Planning
Due to the nature of estate planning, it is important to identify an attorney whom you can fully trust to represent your financial and personal interests. In all facets of our practice, we emphasize compassion and trust. This extends to estate planning as well, and we work diligently to tailor an estate plan that optimizes your assets to the fullest degree.
Estate planning is a complicated area of legal practice. There is no one-size-fits-all estate plan that can be used for every individual or family. We believe in meeting with our clients, understanding their wishes, and implementing these goals within an estate plan created specifically for their goals. This attention to detail is what sets Cobb, Dill & Hammett, LLC apart.
Contact Cobb, Dill & Hammett, LLC Today
If you or a loved one is considering creating an estate plan, congratulations! Deciding to begin estate planning is the first step toward protecting your family, your assets, your health, and the fruits of your labor.
At Cobb, Dill & Hammett, LLC, our team of experienced estate planning attorneys can help you navigate the entire estate planning process. Through creative legal strategies and a clear understanding of your goals and desires, we work alongside you to make your vision regarding your assets and estate a reality. It is never too early to begin estate planning. Estate planning is important for both married and single people, the young and old, and those with and without children. Consider contacting us at 843-936-6680 to begin the process of protecting your assets, and your family, today.
