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Services

 Estate Planning 

Do you need to create or update your estate plan: a will or a trust? What happens to your property after your death? What about your minor children? Do you have a plan for any person suffering from a disability or otherwise unable to care for their own finances? Whether you need basic estate planning or something more complex to account for advanced assets, tax planning, or the specific needs of beneficiaries, Valley Estate & Trust is pleased to be offer our assistance. 

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Wills

A last will and testament is the most basic component of an Estate Plan that designates who will be in charge of your estate after you pass away and specifies what happens to your property. However, typically assets that pass pursuant to a will must go through probate (the expensive and tedious process by which the courts get involved to supervise estate administration). Due to the expenses, tedium, and limitations of the probate system, relying solely on a will may not be the best strategy for many people.

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Trusts

A trust-based estate plan provides a much higher degree of estate-planning flexibility to meet your needs and goals and protect you and your beneficiaries. A properly set up trust avoids probate, simplifies administrations, and can be created to serve a wide range of tax minimization, disability or Medicaid planning, or planning for the long term needs of yourself or your beneficiaries. Valley Estate & Trust can provide a wide range of Trusts including the following:

  • Revocable Living Trusts

  • Supplemental Needs Trusts

  • Medicaid Asset Protection trusts

  • Multigenerational Trusts (Dynasty Trusts)

  • Charitable Trusts

  • Minors' Trusts

  • Pet Trusts

  • Life Insurance Trusts

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Power of Attorney

Financial and Medical Powers of Attorney appoint another person (or persons) to make financial or medical decisions for you and are incredibly important to assure that someone can manage your affairs and health care needs if you are unable to, including to specify your end-of-life care wishes through a "living will" component.

 Estate Administration

We understand how difficult this time can be, following the death of a loved one, and we understand how challenging the responsibilities of serving as the Executor or Administrator of the estates of the recently deceased, or as the Trustee of a trust, can be. Whether you need assistance getting started and/or navigating the rigors of the probate process, assistance with trust administration, or wish for us to serve as the Administrator or Trustee, we are here to help. 

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Probate Assistance

Probate is the process where the Court gets involved to oversee the administration of an estate after someone passes away. Generally this involves a spouse or child going to the courthouse to get qualified as the Executor under a Will or the Administrator of an estate (if someone passes away without a will). After qualification, whoever is in charge needs to perform an inventory of the estate assets and file annual accountings with the Commissioner of Accounts until the estate is fully resolved. The probate process can be incredibly confusing and challenging, especially following the death of a loved one. We can assist anyone navigating the probate process or we can serve as the Executor or Administrator for estates in need of a professional fiduciary services.

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Trustee Services

Trust administration can become complex very quickly depending on the type of trust, the assets under administration, the family dynamics involved, and the needs of the beneficiaries of the Trust. Whether clients need help getting assets transferred into a newly established trust ("funding" the Trust), getting Trust administration started following the death of a loved one, or wish for a professional to serve as the trustee of the trust, Valley Estate & Trust is ready to assist clients with any Trust needs they may have. 

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Other Fiduciary Services

Valley Estate & Trust is proud to offer short and long-term fiduciary services to clients needing a professional Agent or Power of Attorney on their behalf, as a Independent Trustee to any serving Trustee requiring a neutral third party, or as a Trust Protector to be available to a Trustee or the beneficiaries of a Trust as needed to modify otherwise irrevocable trusts, resolve Trustee or beneficiary disputes without court intervention, and provide Trustee and Trust oversight as may be necessary.

Request a Consultation

For personalized legal assistance tailored to your specific needs, request a consultation with our experienced team. We are dedicated to providing professional legal services to help you navigate estate planning, probate, and trust administration with confidence and peace of mind.

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