Willing the afterlife with informed legal representation

Buddhist teachings recommend a contemplation of mortality as the basis for a life-changing appreciation of why we exist. In preparing for death, we gain a deeper understanding of how best to live. While there aren’t any figures reflecting the proportion of practicing attorneys who also adhere to Buddhist precepts, they are most certainly the professionals who are, legally speaking, best versed in how to prepare us for the inevitability of our mortality. They provide the wills and trusts services that can best accommodate our death wishes into legally binding agreements. Here’s a snapshot of some of the specific death process arrangements that a lawyer can help you prepare for.

As courts do not recognize verbal statements of intent on how a person wishes their estate to be dealt with upon their death, it’s necessary to engage the estate planning services of a reputable law firm with a team experienced in the area. A lawyer will draft and devise an estate plan that establishes how assets are to be divided when a client passes away. All documents of this nature need to be in accordance with state laws which are complicated and vary across the country.

Living trusts are one such document. They are formulated to plan for the protection of a client’s children, spouse, business, or other nominated entities, after they die. Living trusts set out a specific set of guidelines for tax planning and asset and estate protection. Whilst such documents are essential, they do not always provide a final resolution to the matter, with processes such as probate, a common occurrence.

Probate litigation results when there are disputes or questions surrounding the proper administration of an estate by its appointed executor or trustee. Certain parties may contest the written declaration of the deceased as not representative of their most current wishes, or may be in opposition to the financial behavior of the executor. The reasons why probate may be entered into are numerous, requiring the representation of a legal team with particular skills in the area.

The California Courts, for example, have their own defined set of laws for dealing with Wills, Estates, and Probates. If there are any disputes regarding such matters, the litigation that arises can often be complex and involved, with a state licensed litigation and practice attorney providing the best option for advocacy and successful resolution.

Mindfully execute the necessary arrangements for what occurs after your demise by contacting an experienced legal firm such as Stone & Sallus LLP, and know that the future you will never see is in competent hands.