Traditional estate planning services include wills and trusts, advanced directives or living wills, powers of attorneys, healthcare proxies, and revocable and irrevocable trusts.

• A will is a legal document in which you express your wishes as to how your property is distributed at death. A will has no legal authority until after your death, and must be litigated in a probate court.

• An advanced directive or living will is a legal document in which you can specify your healthcare wishes if you are no longer able to make decisions due to illness or incapacity.

• A power of attorney is a legal document that gives another person (your agent) the authority to act on your behalf regarding your financial and legal affairs.

• A healthcare proxy (a.k.a. power of attorney for healthcare) is a legal document that gives another person (your agent) the authority to make decisions regarding your healthcare treatment in the event you are unable to make decisions due to illness or incapacity.

• Trusts come in all shapes and sizes and can be designed to accomplish various estate planning objectives. There are testamentary trusts, which become effective upon your death; revocable trusts, which are made during your life but may be amended and revoked; and, irrevocable trusts, which are designed for asset protection, incapacity planning, and tax planning.