Estate Planning & Probate Attorney in Platte County, Missouri
Practice Areas
There is a common misconception that estate planning is only for the wealthy or elderly. However, estate planning is essential for everyone regardless of their age or the size of their estate. Simply, an estate plan allows you to name who you want to inherit your property after you pass away and who can make decisions on your behalf if you become incapacitated or unable to make them yourself.
Building an estate plan and updating it regularly is essential to preserve your wishes and to provide for your family. At Webb Legal Solutions, our attorney can help you draft the documents you need to create an effective estate plan, whether your estate is simple or complex.
Located in Platte City, Missouri, we provide estate planning services to residents throughout Platte County, Clay County, Nodaway County, and Buchanan County. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.
What to Know About Estate Planning & Probate in Missouri
In Missouri, specific rules and regulations can influence how you develop an estate plan and how effective it is. When drafting a Last Will and Testament, you must be at least 18 years of age and of sound mind, meaning you have the capacity to make rational decisions on your own without impairment. Wills must also be signed in front of two witnesses, who must also sign the document in front of you.
Under the Missouri Electronic Wills Act, wills can be created, signed, witnessed, and notarized completely online. Documents created this way are legally recognized the same as traditional paper documents. This Act makes it easier for people from all backgrounds to draft key estate planning documents and protect their estate.
If you pass away without an estate plan in place, specifically without a will, you will be classified as dying “intestate,” and your property will be divided according to the state’s applicable intestacy laws during probate. Probate is the court-supervised process of validating your will and distributing your assets to your named beneficiaries.
Missouri intestacy law will distribute any assets that pass through probate according to a rigid structure, primarily to your surviving spouse and children, or to your parents, siblings, and grandparents in that order. Intestacy law does not apply to assets that have a named beneficiary (i.e., payable-on-death accounts or life insurance policies).
Any assets distributed according to Missouri intestacy laws may not align with your intentions or wishes. Therefore, a comprehensive estate plan helps protect your assets and make sure they pass to your intended beneficiaries.
If you need assistance setting up an estate plan or navigating probate, whether for a Last Will and Testament, trusts, healthcare directives, advance directives, or powers of attorney, contact our experienced attorney at Webb Legal Solutions today.
For Experienced Guidance
Our Missouri Estate Planning & Probate Services
At Webb Legal Solutions, we are experienced in helping individuals from all backgrounds draft estate documents, implement effective estate planning strategies, and navigate probate proceedings. Whether you have a simple or complex estate, we provide the following services for estate planning and probate:
Will drafting: We can help you draft a comprehensive will that outlines how your assets will be distributed, names of beneficiaries and guardians, and establishes the grounds for probating your will according to your wishes.
Trust creation: We can help you set up different types of trusts, such as revocable living trusts, irrevocable trusts, and testamentary trusts, tailored to the needs of your estate and beneficiaries.
Powers of attorney: We can help draft clear and effective powers of attorney that appoint someone you trust to manage your affairs, finances, and medical decisions if you are unable to do so yourself.
Advance healthcare directives: We can draft clear advance directives that state your preferences for end-of-life care and designate a specific individual to make healthcare decisions on your behalf.
Updating estate documents: Estate plans are not a one-and-done pursuit. We can help you update your estate documents to reflect your current situation after a meaningful change in circumstances, such as marriage, divorce, relocation, or if a named beneficiary or trustee has passed away.
Probate administration: We provide dedicated services to guide your family through the court-supervised probate process, including managing, settling, and distributing your estate after you pass away.
Asset inventory & distribution: We help estate executors identify, assess, value, and distribute the deceased’s property as dictated by their estate documents.
Probate dispute resolution: We are prepared to engage in mediation or litigation to represent the deceased’s will or beneficiaries in the event of a creditor claim, will contest, or accusations of breached fiduciary duty.
Whether you are young, starting a new family, established in your career, or retired, setting up an estate plan is critical to protect your estate, provide for your family, and leave clear instructions for what to do if something happens to you. Contact our Missouri estate planning attorney today for further guidance.
How Our Firm Can Help
Knowing which documents to create to accurately reflect your estate and minimize potential estate or inheritance taxes on your loved ones and beneficiaries during probate can be confusing. At Webb Legal Solutions, we are dedicated to helping you set up an effective estate plan regardless of the size or scale of your estate.
Our attorney provides honest, transparent, and thoughtful guidance to help you make informed decisions about your property and assets and review your estate plan as your circumstances change. Backed by over 18 years of experience, we will use our knowledge and resources to help you create an effective plan that provides for your loved ones and honors your wishes.
Contact Our Missouri Estate Planning Attorney
Crafting an estate plan is essential to provide for your loved ones and navigate probate according to your wishes. At Webb Legal Solutions, our attorney, Jeremy Webb, can discuss your situation, recommend strategies for your estate, help you draft effective estate documents, and represent your family during probate proceedings.
Located in Platte City, Missouri, we serve clients throughout Platte County, Clay County, Nodaway County, and Buchanan County. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation and discuss your estate planning needs.