Estate Planning, Wills & Trusts

Resourceful Wills and Trusts Asttorneys

A comprehensive estate plan is essential to protecting your assets, family and business partners. Gianola Barnum & Jecklin, L.C. attorneys understand the importance of estate planning and guide you through the process of creating wills and establishing trusts, whether this is your first time or an update to an existing estate plan. Updating your estate plan ensures the language in your will reflects any changes in the law or your final wishes.

A valid estate plan at minimum includes:

Wills and if necessary, trusts

Powers of attorney

Without a will, your estate will be distributed according to the probate laws of the state. Our firm can assist you in creating a legally binding will that preserves your wishes and legacy for the future.

Our Skilled Estate Attorneys Will Securing Your Personal and Professional Future

The attorneys at Gianola Barnum & Jecklin, L.C. provide comprehensive estate and tax planning services designed to protect you and your family. We know that each of our clients has a unique situation, and we develop customized solutions to preserve your assets while minimizing the overall tax effect of your particular situation.

Our estate planning attorneys in Morgantown understand the relationship between estate planning and business planning. We can work directly with you and your financial professionals to determine the best way to meet your long-term objectives for business succession, retirement, and distribution of your assets.

Our estate and tax planning attorneys provide experienced assistance with the following:

Adherence to West Virginia Estate Planning Laws

Our local Morgantown estate planning attorneys help you execute your wishes according to West Virginia law. We put our knowledge to work for you to create estate planning solutions that protect your assets and benefit the people you leave behind.

We create wills to ensure you, not the state of West Virginia, decide on the distribution of your assets. An estate planning attorney in Morgantown can also structure your estate to avoid probate in the future through creation of various trusts, life insurance and retirement plans, and transferring any real estate ownership to joint tenancy with right of survivorship.

Business Succession Planning

The attorneys at Gianola Barnum & Jecklin, L.C. provide comprehensive estate and tax planning services designed to protect you and your family. We know that each of our clients has a unique situation, and we develop customized solutions to preserve your assets while minimizing the overall tax effect of your particular situation.

Transfer of Ownership

Business and Management Restructuring

Tax Consequences

Retirement Projections

Competently Guiding You Through the Complex Probate Process

Estate and probate administration requires achieving the goals and wishes of the deceased person, satisfying the requirements of the state and federal government, as well as probate court.

Although valid estate plans are established, difficulties may arise in dividing assets according to your loved one’s wishes. When this happens, our skilled litigators provide aggressive representation on legal matters involving:

When to Start Estate Planning

It is never too early to start coordinating the details of your estate. Proper estate planning ensures that your affairs are in order and your wishes honored in case of unexpected illness or death.

No matter the size of your estate or the number of assets you possess, it is important to establish an estate plan. Without a plan in place, the state determines how your assets are distributed, you face a higher tax burden, and your entire estate can be tied up in probate or litigation for a prolonged period.

If you are facing a new chapter in your life whether through marriage, the addition of children, a new career, or creation of a business, an estate planning lawyer in Morgantown can help create or revise your estate plan accordingly. Do not wait until disaster strikes and the opportunity to properly protect your finances and your family is lost. Prepare now to ensure future plans reflect your new reality.

Our estate planning lawyers in Morgantown work with you to formulate an estate plan that is in line with your vision. We guide you through a multi-step process to review your assets, needs, objectives, and circumstances. We compile a list of all your assets including:

Real Estate

Bank Accounts

Retirement Accounts

Life Insurance Policies

Investments

Business Interests

Personal Property (Including Art and Jewelry)

We Will Help You Create a Solid Plan

Our attorneys also address personal matters—such as the creation of health care directives and Durable Power of Attorney—to ensure they are handled properly in the event you are incapacitated and unable to make decisions for yourself, including appointing guardians for any minor children.

Estate planning is a valuable resource to preserve your assets, protect your family, reduce taxes, and ensure your wishes are honored. Without help from an experienced West Virginia estate planning lawyer, costly mistakes can easily be made. Also your West Virginia auto accident attorneys and West Virginia car accident attorneys. For assistance creating your estate plan, contact Gianola, Barnum & Jecklin, L.C. today.