Garner Estate Planning

Planning for your wishes, your family, your future!

Estate planning is a funny thing. It’s one of those “adulting” tasks that, even though it’s not super fun, provides most people with a tremendous sense of both pride and peace of mind when it’s done well.

That’s because there comes a point in life when you realize only you can make sure the people and possessions of your life are properly planned for. 

The process of planning your estate (possessions, parenting, health and end-of-life wishes, financial management, and more) is how you create a more-secure strategy for the future. My clients, and their families, also quickly come to realize it’s one of the most loving gifts they can leave behind.

Estate Planning helps clarify your choices

Health measures

Vehicles

Furniture

Life-saving directives

House or Land

Collectibles

Pets

Heirlooms

Investments

Custody of Children

Jewelry

Treasured Items

Ease the burden for you AND your loved ones

Happy family with child

A well-crafted estate plan can not only help you sleep better at night, it is one of the most significant ways to relieve anxiety, stress, fear, and financial nightmares that otherwise flood your loved one just at the time they’re grieving most. 

We’ll take it step-by-step, with a friendly approach that makes it as stress-free as possible to:

  • anticipate scenarios that are more common than many people think (but we’ve seen all too often!),

  • define and clearly articulate your wishes, 

  • make directives in a living will, 

  • set parameters for powers of attorney, and more.

AND most important of all: you’ll know that it’s written to reflect your unique situation, reflecting North Carolina legal statutes.

Common Estate Planning Questions

  • An estate plan spells out the details of your health care, as well as what should happen with all your possessions, property, financial resources, childcare, and more in the event you are taken seriously ill or you pass away. (And your Garner NC estate plan would cover property or anything you own here, as well as property or possessions you have elsewhere.)

  • Last WIll and Testament: A will can name beneficiaries for a variety of possessions, such as your home, car, jewelry, pets and even your 401k. In this way, you are able to ensure that your possessions are distributed to the correct people when you die.

    Living Will: this is a document through which you declare the types of care you would like to receive if you are ever incapacitated or would need to go on life support. It also lays out any specific choices you have regarding organ donations.

    Powers of Attorney (healthcare and financial): these are legal documents that give someone else the ability to act on your behalf if you are incapacitated or unable to do so. You may think that a spouse, parent, or adult child will automatically be allowed to act in this capacity, however that’s virtually never the case – unless a power of attorney is in place! You can also designate someone else you trust to act in your best interests if you choose.

    Guardians for Children: If you have any children who are minors, or any special needs children, it’s important to specify who should take care of them if you’re no longer capable of doing so. If you don’t, they may end up in the custody of someone you’d rather did not raise them – or even in State care.

  • We offer several different plans depending on your needs. You can click here to find out more information about our costs and what you can expect.

  • We work with clients throughout the Triangle. We have clients in Garner, Clayton, Apex, Holly Springs, Cary, Raleigh, Wake Forest, Willow Springs, Knightdale, and Dunn to name a few.

  • Many people wait until later in life to think about having a will drawn up. Or worse, they figure they don’t have enough to their name to need a will at all—and their families are left scrambling.

    Yes, if you’re an adult in the United States, it’s important to have an estate plan.

    Currently employed or laid off; homeowners or renters; parents or guardians; business owners or investors; retirees on their own or in full-time care… yes, you need an estate plan.

    We don’t want to scare anyone, but the reality is that a serious accident, illness or even death can blindside you or a family member at any age. The best gift you can give your loved ones is clarity. Make sure your wishes are known. Don’t force them to second-guess what you might have wanted.

  • Probate covers the cataloging and appraisal of assets, paying debts and taxes owed, and then distributing the remaining assets either according to the wishes specified in a will, or (if there is no will) according to state law. In situations where there is no will, or the will is not sufficient, the way the estate is divided will be left in the hands of the court.

  • Click here to read our Estate Planning Services Guide to learn more about working with us.

  • Congratulations on taking the first step in becoming a client. We have created a welcome packet just for you to walk you through our process. Click here for the Welcome Packet.

Our goal in helping you create your estate plan is to make sure your documents can be followed without question, and your estate is distributed as you wish.

How can the Happy Lawyer team help me with Garner Estate Planning?

First and foremost, by treating you as an individual, not a number, or just the sum of your assets! 

Estate planning can bring up a LOT of emotions, raise questions, and even feel a little overwhelming at times. But, like Mary Poppins sang so many years ago, we’ve also found that a spoonful of that proverbial sugar really CAN help the medicine go down. 

You’ll discover a fun-and-friendly style of client service — paired with a very serious dedication to our legal expertise! With the Happy Lawyer, you come first, for instance:

  • Estate plans are billed by project, not by the hour.

  • Meeting length adjusts to how our clients are feeling, not by the clock.

  • Client meetings feel more like coffee-with-friends (even homemade treats when possible!).

  • Family is as included as you’d like—in fact, your needs and wishes set the tone at every stage.

Importantly, we also work with you and your financial team to lay out a legal and ethical plan that will help minimize your estate taxes, and make sure as much of your property goes to your heirs and beneficiaries.

Whether you’re creating your first plan, updating an existing one to reflect new life situations, or navigating probate or estate administration, the Happy Lawyer team will be by your side.