Estate Planning

Dealing with the death of a loved one is emotional and challenging. Taking care of their estate can add additional stress, especially if they don’t have a will. When someone dies without a will, determining what they own may be more challenging. Additionally, intestacy law will determine how their assets are distributed if they don’t name any beneficiaries. Who Is…

If someone dies in Iowa and leaves a will, the probate court will validate the will and allow the executor to distribute the estate’s assets according to the last will and testament. However, if the decedent died without leaving a valid will, Iowa law deems them to have died intestate. This means that the court must follow intestate succession laws…

Estate planning can seem overwhelming, especially if you’ve never made an estate plan before. Creating a plan of this kind requires various legal documents so you can thoroughly safeguard your assets and secure your family’s future. Before you create an estate plan, itemize each asset you own and decide who you want them to transfer to when you die. Below…

The prospect of talking to an estate planning attorney can make anyone feel anxious. Addressing your final wishes can be a challenging and sensitive topic. Often, people become overwhelmed simply trying to prepare for an initial meeting with an estate planning attorney. At the Telpner Peterson Law Firm, LLP, we don’t want the estate planning process to be intimidating. We…

Estate planning isn’t only for people at an advanced age or with a terminal illness. Creating a valid and legally enforceable estate plan can protect a person if they become incapacitated. If you’re incapacitated, you can’t make informed decisions regarding your well-being and finances. Incapacity often results from a debilitating injury, sudden illness, or traumatic accident. If you don’t include…

It is never easy to think about what would happen to your family if you were no longer around. Unfortunately, avoiding the question of what will happen doesn’t make the problem go away. Sitting down to create an estate plan is one way that you can plan for the future and ensure that your wishes are respected, and your family…

If you have written a will, you shouldn’t assume that you won’t need to do any more estate planning. Wills are not set in stone – you can update your will throughout your life. Depending on your stage in life, you may have significant personal, familial, and financial changes ahead of you that should motivate you to review and update…

When you choose to bequeath wealth to a family member, you might be concerned that the money or property you’ve worked hard to earn may soon be squandered due to the recipient’s poor financial habits or personal problems. You can protect your loved one and the legacy you leave them by putting it into a spendthrift trust, which we will…

Many people don’t create a will or do any estate planning. A last will and testament is a valuable legal document that can protect your assets and your family’s future. Without a will, the property you leave behind might not transfer to your intended relatives. You should consider drafting a will to instruct your loved ones about how you want…

Drafting a will is arguably the most important piece of an estate plan. Sometimes, when people don’t want to spend the time and money to hire an attorney, they may write a will themselves. They can even take advantage of computer or online software to help them write their will. However, writing a will this way could result in mistakes…