Estate Planning

Estate Planning & Legacy Preservation: Securing What Matters Most

At Jennifer B Barthol, Financial Planning LLC, we believe that Estate Planning is one of the most profound acts of love and responsibility you can undertake for your family. It’s not just about what happens after you’re gone; it’s about making clear decisions today that protect your loved ones, preserve your assets, and ensure your wishes are honored, no matter what the future holds. Jennifer B Barthol is dedicated to guiding individuals and families through this crucial process with empathy, clarity, and comprehensive expertise, helping you build a lasting Legacy Planning framework that reflects your values and secures your family’s future.

Many people mistakenly believe estate planning is only for the very wealthy or the elderly. The truth is, if you own any assets, have a family, or simply have wishes about your medical care, you need a thoughtful estate plan. Without one, state laws will dictate who inherits your property, who raises your children, and who makes medical and financial decisions on your behalf if you become incapacitated—outcomes that rarely align with your personal preferences. Our goal is to empower you to take control of these vital decisions.

Our comprehensive Estate Planning services focus on Preservation of Assets and ensuring your directives are clear and legally sound:

• Wills: Your Voice for Distribution and Guardianship: A Will (Last Will and Testament) is often the starting point. It’s your primary instruction manual for distributing your assets. Crucially, if you have minor children, your Will is the only legal document where you can designate guardians—the individuals you trust implicitly to raise your children if the unthinkable were to happen. We ensure your Will is clear, legally valid, and precisely reflects your wishes, preventing confusion and potential conflict among your heirs.
• Trusts: Control, Privacy, and Protection: Trusts offer a deeper level of control, privacy, and asset protection than a Will alone. Unlike a Will, which typically goes through the public probate court, assets held in a Trust can often bypass probate, allowing for private and efficient distribution. We help you establish various types of trusts, such as:
  • Revocable Living Trusts: Allow you to maintain full control over your assets during your lifetime, seamlessly manage them if you become incapacitated, and distribute them to beneficiaries without probate.
  • Irrevocable Trusts: Offer advanced asset protection, potential estate tax savings, and can be used for specific purposes like charitable giving or protecting beneficiaries with special needs.
  • Special Needs Trusts: Crucial for providing for a loved one with disabilities without jeopardizing their eligibility for vital government benefits.
    We carefully select and craft the right trust strategy to meet your specific goals for Preservation of Assets and Legacy Planning.
• Powers of Attorney (POA): Protection During Your Lifetime: These critical documents ensure that trusted individuals can manage your affairs if you become unable to do so yourself:
  • Financial POA: A Financial Power of Attorney allows you to appoint an agent to manage your financial matters (pay bills, manage investments) if you become incapacitated. This avoids the need for a costly and public court-ordered conservatorship.
  • Medical POA / Healthcare Proxy: A Medical POA allows you to name a trusted person to make healthcare decisions on your behalf if you cannot communicate your wishes, ensuring your medical care aligns with your values.
• Living Wills: Your Voice in Medical Decisions: A Living Will (also called an Advance Directive) specifically outlines your preferences regarding life-sustaining medical treatments and end-of-life care if you become terminally ill or permanently unconscious. It empowers you to make choices about medical interventions, providing clarity and immense relief to your family during difficult times.
• Beneficiary Designations: We conduct a thorough review of beneficiary designations on your life insurance policies, retirement accounts (401(k)s, IRAs), and other financial accounts. These designations often supersede your Will, making it crucial that they align perfectly with your overall Legacy Planning strategy.

Jennifer B Barthol’s comprehensive approach to Estate Planning ensures that every element of your plan works harmoniously. We take the time to understand your family dynamics, your assets, and your aspirations, crafting a personalized strategy that minimizes taxes, avoids unnecessary court interference, and maximizes the Preservation of Assets for your loved ones. Our goal is to provide you with the ultimate peace of mind that your legacy is secure, your wishes will be honored, and your family will be cared for, exactly as you intend.