Estate Planning

If you pass away without a will and/or estate plan, Colorado law will determine what happens to your property. To take control over what happens to your property, contact the attorneys at Colorado Legal Counsel, LLC to assist you.

Colorado Legal Counsel, LLC provides extensive estate planning services including: the drafting of wills, trusts, medical power of attorney, general durable power of attorney, advance directive for medical/surgical treatment (often known as a “living will”), appointment of guardian, and disposition of last remains. We are happy to assist our clients in whatever way we can to tailor their legal documents in accordance with their specific wants and needs as it pertains to this life and as it pertains to after life and the administration of an estate. Our goal is to provide open and honest communication regarding the sensitive and sometimes difficult subject matter accompanied with discussing end of life decisions regarding medical treatment and the administration of an estate upon the death of the client. Furthermore, our firm offers flexible payment plans in order to facilitate the opportunity for each and every person to access the legal services and estate planning documents that they may need.

Our experienced estate planning attorneys understand that you, and your needs, are unique. Our goal is to listen to what your estate planning concerns and goals are for the future. We care about what is important to you as you begin this journey. Our focus is on you, your priorities, and your objectives.

A variety of misconceptions exist when it comes to estate planning. One of the most common mistakes is believing that only retired people need to worry about their estate, but this is not true. Your estate is your legacy and you cannot take it with you when you pass away.

Wills (Last Testament): A well-crafted last will and testament can accomplish a lot, including outlining how your property will be distributed upon your passing and dictating who will be guardians of your minor children

Trusts: Depending on your situation, there may be many financial advantages to establishing a trust. However, given the many different types of trusts available, you should speak with us to determine which type of trust may best serve your purposes, including for legal purposes, investment purposes, or tax planning purposes.

Powers of attorney: A power of attorney is a legal instrument that gives another person the legal rights to make certain decisions for you. The authority granted by a power of attorney can be very narrow or quite broad, depending on your needs. If the goal is to name someone who will make your decisions should you be incapacitated, a durable power of attorney should be used to deal with both medical and money matters.

Health care documents/advance directives: An advance directive is a legal instrument that outlines the type of medical care you would want to receive should you lose the ability to communicate and/or make your own decisions.

Long-term care planning: If you think you may need long-term care in a nursing home or other assisted living facility, it is best to prepare years in advance, especially if you think you will need Medicaid to help cover expenses. Special trusts and gifting strategies should be explored sooner than later to avoid financial pitfalls down the line

Many details are involved in creating your estate plan, and it is never too early to start. Even if you have already created a will or trust, it is important to revisit the terms so that you can make any necessary changes. The estate planning attorneys at Colorado Legal Counsel, LLC provide a wide variety of estate planning services; including estate management; wills, living trusts, revocable trusts, family trusts, and special needs trusts; health care surrogate; living wills; and other services.