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If you want to Write a Will, Virtual In-House Counsel can help you:
 Write a Last Will and Testament
Set up a family trust
Draft a Community Property Agreement
Execute a Durable Power of Attorney
Draw up a Health Care Directive, sometimes known as a "Living Will"
… Write a Last Will and Testament
A primary purpose of estate planning is to distribute your assets according to your wishes after your death. Successful estate planning transfers your assets to your beneficiaries quickly and usually with minimal tax consequences. The process of estate planning includes inventorying your assets and making a will and/or establishing a trust, often with an emphasis on minimizing taxes.
… Set up a family trust (return to top)
A trust is an estate planning device which permits one person to hold legal title to an asset while the equitable title rests with a beneficiary. Trusts are major tools in family estate planning because of tax considerations and because of their management benefits. An individual may establish a trust for the
benefit of his family, or for his own benefit. The trustee can be any person or institution in which the grantor has faith and trust, or the grantor may serve as trustee. A trustee is usually entitled to
reasonable compensation for administering trust property.
… Draft a Community Property Agreement (return to top)
Community property is a method for defining the ownership of property acquired during marriage. Generally, although there are exceptions, all earnings during marriage and all property acquired with
those earnings, together with other property acquired during the marriage are considered community property, owned equally by husband and wife. Likewise, most debts incurred during marriage are debts of
the couple. At the death of one spouse, a Community Property Agreement makes certain that his/her half of the community property as well as an of that spouse's separate property will go to the surviving
spouse. Separate property may be left to whomever the owner wishes. If you leave everything to your spouse, as many people do, you don't need to worry about what belongs to you and what belongs to
your spouse. But if you want to divide your property among several beneficiaries, you need to understand just what's yours to leave.
… Execute a Durable Power of Attorney (return to top)
Almost everyone with property or an income can benefit from a Durable Power of Attorney for finances. It's particularly important, however, to have a Durable Power of Attorney if you fear that health problems
may make it impossible for you to handle your financial matters. Making a Durable Power of Attorney ensures that someone you trust will be on hand to manage the many practical, financial tasks that will
arise if you become incapacitated.
… Draw up a Health Care Directive (return to top)
An advance directive allows you to state your choices for health care or to name someone to make those
choices for you, if you become unable to make decisions about your medical treatment. In short, an advance directive enables you to have some control over your future medical care. You can say "yes" to
treatment you want, or say "no" to treatment you don't want.
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