Estate Planning
Indianapolis, Indiana Estate Planning Attorney
Creating an estate plan allows you to define where your wealth is going at the time of your death, how your loved ones will be financially taken care of, and the designation of your business and healthcare representatives should you become incapacitated. It can also help you plan for events that will affect minor children, a spouse, or your own care needs. At Cremer & Cremer we offer over 40 years of experience in helping our clients create tailored and cost-effective estate plans.
You may need a simple estate plan or a complex plan to address your family needs. Our firm is experienced in creating cost-effective estate plans that minimize tax obligations and protect our clients’ rights, families, and financial interests. Contact us to learn more about our estate planning practice.
Wills: A will can accomplish a number of estate planning goals including the distribution and control of assets over generations, charitable giving concerns, and post death planning. Our attorneys will help you in creating a will or a living trust that accomplishes your estate planning objectives.
Trusts: More sophisticated or complex estate plans may require the creation of a trust. Our attorneys will review all of your options and alternatives and work to create a tailored estate plan that addresses your immediate and future needs. We are experienced in charitable trusts, spendthrift trusts, special needs trusts, and other tools that will help you avoid creditors and minimize tax consequences.
Business succession: In addition to personal estate plans, we can also assist with business succession planning to address the future of your business at the time of death of one or more partners. This is especially useful if you own a family business.
Powers of attorney: Powers of attorney place the control of finances or health in the hands of another person should you become incapacitated or unable to make decisions for yourself. A power of attorney gives another person the power to pay bills, write checks, deposit checks, transact business, or make healthcare decisions during times when you are unable to perform those tasks due to incapacity. In the absence of these documents, a guardian will need to be appointed to make these decisions for you.
Health care planning: Appropriate advanced healthcare planning can minimize the decisions your family will be burdened with should you become incapacitated. It will also prevent you from receiving unwanted medical treatment. Our attorneys are experienced with advanced directives, living wills, and the appointment of healthcare representatives to minimize burdens for your family and ensure that your wishes are followed.
Tax planning: People with significant wealth will need a more complex estate plan that allows them to minimize tax obligations. Our attorneys can assist you in utilizing your tax exemptions through tax planning strategies. We have a CPA /attorney who is Of-counsel to the firm.
What happens if I die without a will or estate plan?
If you die without a will, the state will determine how your property will be divided among your legal heirs. Your heirs include spouses, children, brothers and sisters, parents, nieces and nephews. Needless to say, your assets may not pass to the person you had in mind. Our attorneys can assist you in the creation of estate planning documents so that you control where your wealth goes following death.
Contact Cremer & Cremer for an initial consultation or case evaluation with an experienced Indianapolis, Indiana lawyer. For over 40 years we have offered a tradition of service, advocacy, and results to business and individual clients statewide.
