Cary Estate Planning

Category: Estate planning attorney

Address: 1776 Heritage Center Dr Ste 204, Wake Forest, NC 27587, USA

Phone: +19196598433

Opening hours

Sunday: Open 24 hours

Monday: Open 24 hours

Tuesday: Open 24 hours

Wednesday: Open 24 hours

Thursday: Open 24 hours

Friday: Open 24 hours

Saturday: Open 24 hours

Reviews

Wells Martin

Mar 24, 2022

Very through and timely with documents. Paul explained everything. We feel we are up to date with our estate plan.

Lynn R

Dec 27, 2021

Very professional, excellent communication, very thorough covid protocol…truly thought of every detail to ensure everyone’s safety and comfort. Exceptional experience from start to finish.

Freto Spivey

Dec 24, 2021

I needed will an estate information,,both attorneys Paul and Steven where very knowledgeable about what they do they also are very professional, excellent quality of work, they will go beyond to solve any issues that you may have .quality of their work is excellent, also their staff service is an added bonus they are responsive to returning calls they do good team work .Cary Estate planning gets the job done correctly.

Margie Otstot

Aug 19, 2021

Everything went fine. Paul's group were very responsive. I, too, wish Paul was in Wake Forest. However, I can see in him Cary. However I'm having trouble posting this review

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Questions & Answers

How do I avoid probate?

Joey Dempsey | Sep 25, 2021
Cary Estate Planning | Sep 25, 2021

There are three ways to avoid probate: · Not owning anything on the date of your death, · Only owning assets in a non-probate designation, or · Utilizing trust-based planning to remove assets from your estate.

How much does probate cost?

Joey Dempsey | Sep 25, 2021
Cary Estate Planning | Sep 25, 2021

There are really 3 potential costs associated with Probate: · The filing and notice fees (usually $120 and $115-130 depending on the newspaper), · The Probate fee (0.4% of probate assets up to $6,000), and · The Attorney’s Fee for assisting with the Probate proceeding ($1,000 – $10,000, depending on the matter and the Attorney).

How long does probate take?

Joey Dempsey | Sep 25, 2021
Cary Estate Planning | Sep 25, 2021

It can take anywhere from 3 months to several years, depending on the nature and complexity of your estate. The duration will depend on the number of creditors, the types and location of your probate assets, whether there is a dispute amongst your beneficiaries, and whether there is a wrongful death action pending.

Who settles my estate?

Joey Dempsey | Sep 25, 2021
Cary Estate Planning | Sep 25, 2021

The Executor named in your will, and potentially an attorney of their choosing, will be tasked with settling your estate – i.e., paying your debts and disbursing your assets to your beneficiaries. The Executor will have a fiduciary responsibility to your beneficiaries in that endeavor.

Who serves as a trustee?

Joey Dempsey | Sep 25, 2021
Cary Estate Planning | Sep 25, 2021

It’s entirely up to the Trustor, but normally the Trustor will also serve as Trustee during their lifetime. Once they pass away, a Successor Trustee takes over – that person is appointed by the Trustor in the Trust.

What if I don't have a will?

Joey Dempsey | Sep 25, 2021
Cary Estate Planning | Sep 25, 2021

If you do not appoint a Guardian in a Will, or some other writing executed with the same formalities of a Will, then your family will be able to petition the Clerk for Guardianship – but in that event, the Clerk will have no context or background for your kids or your family, so the person you may not have intended to be the Guardian may end up being appointed Guardian by the Clerk.

Can I create my own will?

Joey Dempsey | Sep 25, 2021
Cary Estate Planning | Sep 25, 2021

Technically yes, anyone can draft a will. However, drafting your own will is a risky endeavor because you simply don’t know what you don’t know. Creating your own will makes it much more likely that there will be something left out or unaccounted for, or that a legal formality is not followed. It is always best to consult an Estate Planning Lawyer when considering implementing a Will in your estate plan.

What is a will?

Joey Dempsey | Sep 25, 2021
Cary Estate Planning | Sep 25, 2021

A Will is a legal document, normally prepared by an Estate Planning Lawyer, setting out your wishes for the distribution of your assets after you pass, the appointment of a Guardian for any minor children or pets you may have on the date of your death, the payment of your debts, and the appointment of an Executor to settle your estate.

Does a will avoid probate?

Joey Dempsey | Sep 25, 2021
Cary Estate Planning | Sep 25, 2021

No, not usually. A will is often called a “ticket to probate”, meaning that it only governs assets that would normally need to pass through the court process of probate in order to be passed on to the intended beneficiary. The answer to this question largely depends on the assets and beneficiary designations of the testator (the creator of the will) at the time of their death. Wills are not generally probate avoidance tools, though.

What happens to the kids if both parents unexpectedly pass?

Joey Dempsey | Sep 25, 2021
Cary Estate Planning | Sep 25, 2021

If they are minors at the time of the deaths, and if you designated a Guardian for Minor Children in your Will, the Guardian will submit the Will to the Clerk of Court and Petition for Guardianship of the children. The Clerk is required to defer to the wishes of the parents unless the potential Guardian is unfit.

What is a trust?

Joey Dempsey | Sep 25, 2021
Cary Estate Planning | Sep 25, 2021

A Trust is a contract between three parties. The trustor, trustee, and the beneficiaries. It is essentially a set of rules the set out how the Trustee is to hold the assets for the benefit of the Beneficiary(ies). The Trustor sets the rules. Trusts can have many different benefits, but are a complex planning technique that is not appropriate for everyone.

What are the benefits of a trust?

Joey Dempsey | Sep 25, 2021
Cary Estate Planning | Sep 25, 2021

A Revocable Living Trust has two primary purposes: 1) to avoid probate, and 2) to provide more structure to the distribution of your assets after you have passed. The trust allows all assets titled in the Trustee’s name to avoid the probate process and be capable of use immediately after your death, and it allows the Trustor to put specific rules around how and when the Beneficiaries should receive their assets.

Can I change a trust?

Joey Dempsey | Sep 25, 2021
Cary Estate Planning | Sep 25, 2021

Yes! During the life of the Trustor, the Trust can be amended or terminated whenever the Trustor wants. That means the Trust can be changed to evolve with your family and financial circumstances. Once the Trustor has died, the Trust becomes irrevocable and generally cannot be changed without a Court Order.

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