Estate Planning Legal Counsel and Representation

Our approach to Estate Planning is to take the time to get to know the needs of the client and goals for themselves and their family. Every family situation is unique and we treat every estate plan as if it were a custom made suit -- custom made for a perfect fit.

• Special Needs Children
  
  
• Tax Avoidance
  
  
• The Care of Minors
  
  
• College Assistance
  
  
• Faith Based Planning

Whether you are a single person, a newly married couple, beginning your family, have an empty nest with the need to continue financial support or are in the twilight of your years and would like to find a way to preserve a legacy for generations to come; we can help. The wrong move could cost you and your loved ones dearly, so "Make the Right Move with Postelli Law."

Disability Before Death:

Estate Planning is not just about what happens to your "things" when you die, it is also about Long Term Care Planning for Nursing Home and Rehabilitation Care. Additionally, it can be about managing your business, assets and affairs if you become sick or incompetent.

1. Are you the primary provider for your family?
   
   
2. What would happen if you were to suffer some temporary or permanent disability?
   
   
3. Do you have a "Durable Power of Attorney" in place?

Estate Planning is about implementing a strategy of using Durable Power of Attorney to manage your affairs when you can longer do so on your own. It is about Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care and Personal Decisions to designate an Attorney-in-Fact to make medical decisions for you when you can longer competently direct your own care.

Wills vs. Trusts:

Both vehicles for passing assets to the next generation are useful. When consulting with a client, we detail the pros and cons associated with each method and how to best incorporate these documents into your estate plans.

1. How will Estate Recovery Laws impact your Estate Planning?
   
   
2. What implications might there be should Medicaid expenses come into play?
   
   
3. Can Estate Planning reduce inheritance taxes or even avoid Probate altogether?

There is merit to having a simple estate plan, yet the benefits may be outweighed by other factors such as when the house may be lost to pay for Medicaid expenses in long term care, or when the Taxable Estate may exceed the designated exemption level subjecting the estate to inheritance taxes. Finally, there is the debate throughout the ages of "Probate Avoidance". A Trust avoids probate only as well as it is funded. If funding is done properly, Probate can be avoided in most circumstances.

Faith Based Services:

As practicing Christians, the John C. Postelli Law Office has developed numerous "faith based" documents for use in our estate planning practice.

• Inclusion of a "Christian Preamble" to remind survivors of your faith.
  
  
• Detailing faith based decisions in your Durable Power of Attorney regarding Health Care.

Our experience with "faith based" issues may be of great assistance to you and your family during an otherwise very difficult time. Complex, and often emotionally-driven questions such as when water and nutrition may be discontinued -- when death is imminent, can be properly defined with our "faith based" documents.

Please contact our office today to schedule an appointment or consultation: 269.932.3300

We look forward to serving you!