Knoxville, Tennessee: Legal Help With Estate Planning
Estate planning is a term lawyers use to describe the process of helping families write wills and other legal documents to protect their assets, their decisions and their families after a family member becomes incapacitated or dies. Estate planning can also be used to make arrangements for the care of your minor children in the event of the death of both parents.
Not every family needs full estate planning services. However, every family should have a will and a medical directive or medical power of attorney.
A medical power of attorney is a tool that you can use to help plan for your health care decisions if you become unable to voice your opinion in the future. Without a will, the legal system will dictate who receives your assets after death.
At the law office of James R. LaFevor, we offer efficient estate planning services for families and individuals. Our goal is to use our legal skills to transform your wishes into solid, enduring legal documents — these documents will speak for you, to protect your family, your wishes and your assets after death or incapacitation.
A native of Tennessee, attorney James R. LaFevor has practiced probate and estate planning law for more than 30 years.
The Basic Tools of Estate Planning
A will is used to specify who shall receive which assets after your death. For some families, one or more trusts may be useful. A trust may be used to help minimize estate taxes or to provide for people with special medical needs. A living will — also called a medical directive — is used to set down in writing your wishes for your own health care, in the event that you are in a coma or otherwise incapable of communicating your wishes.
Two additional tools of estate planning are guardianships and conservatorships. A guardianship is used to set up a formal caretaking relationship for people who are unable to care for themselves. A conservatorship is used to designate someone to take charge of the finances or personal decisions of an adult who can no longer make sound decisions.
Use Estate Planning for Peace of Mind
The primary goal of estate planning is to give as much enforceable guidance as possible — relating to finances, health care and child care. Take steps to put your affairs in order. Get a free, no-pressure initial consultation from experienced Knoxville lawyer James R. LaFevor.
We understand the challenges faced by people in the military and their family members. Mr. LaFevor served in the U.S. Army from 1968 to 1971. He was stationed in both Germany and Vietnam, and was ranger qualified and airborne qualified. We offer discounts to active-duty members of the military.
Call toll-free 866-752-2921, or use our online contact form.
