Everyone Needs an Estate Plan

April 21, 2010 - PRLog -- An estate plan administers a person’s property and assets in the event of their death, incapacitation, or absence.  It is a good idea to have an estate plan no matter how little property a person has because they cover so much more than property.  Part of an estate plan is a living will and / or a medical power of attorney.  The former outlines the pre-coordinated wishes of someone medically incapable of coherent communication and the latter allows a third party to make some or all decisions on behalf of another in the event they are deemed medically incapable of coherent communication.

Timothy McFarlin, an attorney with Irvine based law firm McFarlin & Geurts, says that “Estate plans allow people to maintain absolute control over their possessions and their body in the event they are unable to physically express their desires.  They let people tell the world what they want to happen to their family, their possessions, and their bodies.  Some set up trusts, some donate to charity, some donate to science, some leave it all to their kids and some leave it all to their friends.  No matter the circumstance, any person can benefit from an estate plan.”

McFarlin explains that he constantly hears excuses for why people think they don’t need an estate plan, but none of them are ever sensible.  People claim that they have nothing of value or that they don’t care what happens to their bodies if they can’t communicate.  Some people have even wrongly assumed that verbally addressing their wishes with their loved ones would be enough to guarantee legal recognition of those wishes.  McFarlin urges people to remember that their decisions can have life changing impact on those left behind.  Lack of a documented estate plan could lead to loved ones missing out on much needed financial assistance, kids being raised by undesired individuals, and personal possessions being locked up because of civil litigation between two parties who each think they deserve the same portion of an estate.    

“To put it simply,” McFarlin says, “everybody has something in this world that they want to see taken care of when they are no longer able to take care of it.  An estate plan makes that possible.  Whether a person wants to distribute a multi-billion dollar fortune or a dusty collection of old post cards, an estate plan will help ensure that every last item of a person’s estate is distributed as the person desired.”    

About McFarlin & Geurts:
McFarlin & Geurts LLP is a full service law firm representing both businesses and consumers in California and throughout the United States. McFarlin & Geurts attorneys possess a keen sense of the law and markets, along with an astute business background that is invaluable in bankruptcy and business litigation. The McFarlin & Geurts team includes five leading attorneys and supporting staff to assure clients that their needs are placed at the forefront of any engagement. Legal representation and counseling is critical in our complex modern world, and McFarlin & Geurts is driven by a desire for excellence and commitment to provide quality, personalized service with integrity.

Media Contact:

Talien Barsamian
(888) 728-0044

To learn more about services offered by McFarlin & Geurts Law Firm, visit www.mcfarlinlaw.com.

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McFarlin & Geurts attorneys learn and understand your concerns, your business, and your objectives. We apply intellectual dexterity, skill, and integrity to every client matter which has fostered enduring client relationships and compelling results.