Estate Planning for Every Person

Every person over the age of 18 needs an estate plan. It does not matter who you are, how much money you have, how old you are, if you have kids, if you are married, divorced, widowed or single, every person needs an estate plan!!! There are estate plans for people at every stage of life, some are very simple, and some are more complex. We can help you identify your estate planning needs and put together a customized plan that will protect you, your legacy, your assets and your loved ones.

The hardest part of estate planning is making that first call. We know how busy life can be and pushing estate planning to the bottom of your “to-do” list is very easy to do, but not having a plan in place can be devastating if anything should happen to you.

Convenient Office in Cornelius, NC, Serving the Lake Norman Area

Robbins Law Firm is centrally located in Cornelius, North Carolina and we serve clients throughout the Lake Norman area.

You are never too busy to finally get an estate plan in place or update your existing plan. The hardest part is simply making that first call — contact us to schedule a consultation and we'll do everything we can to make the rest easy for you!

What is an Estate Plan?

An estate plan is a legal process that involves planning with an attorney to implement legal documents that protect you, your assets and your family if you become incapacitated or pass away. It is so much more than just signing a will. There are different types of wills with an infinite number of variations and details that must be customized for your specific situation and needs, and sometimes a will is not enough to protect your family from court and chaos. You will need the guidance that only an experienced estate planning attorney can offer. This is why online DIY programs like Legal Zoom are a bad choice. All too often we see the product of cheap legal DIY options and it’s never pretty. Your family, your assets and your legacy are worthy of a proper plan.

A well drafted plan will give you security of knowing your family will avoid court and chaos and your legacy will be protected. We will discuss estate planning, tax planning, asset protection and long-term care planning with you. With our guidance, you will implement a plan that will give you peace of mind knowing you have taken care of all the important details if anything should happen to you.

Most Common Estate Planning Documents:

Last Will & Testament: This document is by far the most widely recognizable estate planning document. This is the most basic document where you can state who will get your property when you pass away, who will be guardians for any minor children you leave behind and who will be your executor. A will is the starting point for a well planned estate.

Revocable Trust: A revocable trust is a document designed to take your estate plan to the next level. In addition to stating who gets your assets when you are gone, with a trust you can direct how your beneficiaries will get your assets so that they are not paid out all at once. One of the greatest benefits of having a trust is avoiding probate of your assets and the imposition of a guardianship upon incapacity.

Durable Power of Attorney: Arguably one of the most important estate planning documents, the durable power of attorney allows you to appoint agents who can step into your shoes to manage your financial and legal matters if you become incapacitated without the interference of a court or the imposition of a guardianship.

Health Care Power of Attorney: A health care power of attorney appoints the individuals who will manage your health care if your doctors determine you are unable to make your own health care decisions.

Living Will: A living will is the legal document where you state under what circumstances you would want life-prolonging measures to be withheld or withdrawn so that you can die a natural death.

Health Care Power of Attorney for Minor Children: If you cannot make decisions for your own children, this document allows you to grant the power to make health care decisions for your children to people you know and trust. This document will prevent any government authority from taking over your children’s health care in an emergency situation.

Our Estate Planning Process

When you call our office, you will be greeted with the voice of a real person who is actually sitting in our office located in the heart of Lake Norman in Cornelius, NC. After getting some initial information, you will be scheduled for an initial phone consultation. During the initial consultation, we will ask you questions to help us determine what you are trying to accomplish and if we are equipped to help you. During that call, you can ask us questions to decide if we are right for you. Assuming we are a match (and we almost always are!) you will be scheduled for an estate planning consultation with one of our attorneys. Your estate planning consultation will take place in our office, unless you prefer a phone or video consultation. During your estate planning consultation, which typically lasts an hour or so, determine your estate planning needs and goals. Then we will recommend which estate planning documents you will need to accomplish your estate planning goals. Once we have worked out all of the details, we will get to work and will have your documents ready to review and sign in about 2-3 weeks. We will review your documents with you at our office and guide you through the formal signing process at that same meeting.

Contact us today to get the process started.

Special Note for Parents with Minor Children

We understand that imagining and planning for your family’s future without you in it is a troubling task. We are parents with minor children too. We know how precious your time and your family are to you. Taking this step is truly the hardest part. Now that you’re here we’ll guide you and do everything we can to make the rest easy for you! Just contact us to schedule your initial consultation.

What makes our firm different is that we were built with the needs of growing families in mind. We understand you are busy. Your life is ever changing and perhaps, still growing. You are planning for a life of prosperity, and you value ease, convenience and efficiency. You are raising children, and caring for aging parents, while also working hard to build your own nest egg. You want to know you’ve made the best decisions for your family and that your plan will work when they need it most. You want to make sure your minor children are raised by the people you choose, and that they never become wards of the state and they are never turned over to anyone you didn’t personally choose. Moreover, you never want to see your family members arguing over which side of the family will raise your children if something happens to you. If you do not have a solid estate plan in place, these nightmares can be reality. We will make sure you have a plan that will insure that never happens.

Cost of Estate Plans

We do all of our estate planning on a flat fee basis. Because no two estate plans are the same, we can only quote your fee after we determine exactly what documents you need to accomplish your estate planning goals. Our fees are competitive with other firms in the area and experience we offer is unmatched in the Lake Norman area.

We can assure you that that the cost of estate planning is substantially less than the cost of not having an estate plan if when you die or if you become incapacitated.

Take the Next Step — Call or Email Today. Leave the Rest to Us!

Contact Robbins Law Firm to schedule your initial meeting with an estate planning attorney. Our attorneys have over 40 combined years of experience and have served hundreds of Lake Norman families. We look forward to serving you too!