North Carolina Estate Planning Attorney

Wills and Trusts • End-of-Life Issues • Estate Administration

Do you have a plan in place if you or your spouse becomes ill? Are you certain who will inherit your estate? Who will make medical decisions if you cannot? Every person should have a will and estate plan, regardless of the amount of assets.

The Winston-Salem law firm of Stroud & Panetti, P.C. helps clients explore estate planning goals and put them into action: preparing for the unexpected, passing assets to intended heirs, and expressing your desires clearly. Our firm also provides efficient estate administration, serving Forsyth County and surrounding counties of North Carolina.

Planning for the Future, Preparing for the Worst

Of course none of us can foresee a disabling disease, or the time or nature of our own death. But good estate planning means scanning the future for possible predicaments and addressing them in writing. As an estate planning lawyer of 25 years, Keith Stroud provides unique insights and poses important questions you may not have considered.

Wills
Your last will and testament specifies who will inherit how assets are distributed, and any wishes regarding burial or legacy gifts. Mr. Stroud engages clients in a thoughtful conversation to draft an individualized estate plan:

• Durable power of attorney: who will handle your affairs if you are incapacitated?
• Health care power of attorney: who makes medical decisions on your behalf if you can not?
• Living wills: what are your wishes about "heroic measures" and life support?

Trusts

Stroud & Panetti, P.C. can create a trust to meet any estate planning goals. A few examples:

• A health, education and welfare trust provides for children while controlling how they will inherit.
• A special needs trust meets the financial needs of family members who cannot care for themselves.
• A marital assets trust transfers control of assets directly to a spouse at death.
• A revocable trust names beneficiaries but can be altered while you are still living.

Elder Law
Advance planning gives you options when the time comes for nursing home care or other long-term care for you or a spouse. Some clients choose private insurance to pay for a facility of their choice. Others wish to preserve assets for a spouse or child while still qualifying for care funded by Medicaid. The law changes constantly, and clients can get into trouble by trying to transfer assets to family members. Mr. Stroud advises clients on how best to achieve their goals.

Estate Administration / Probate
If you were named as the executor of a will, or appointed by a probate court to settle an estate without a will, Mr. Stroud will work closely with you to handle estate administration duties. These include the time-consuming tasks of locating heirs, distributing assets, and paying debts and taxes of the estate. He also offers strong advocacy in the event of a will contest.

Experience You Can Trust
Contact a North Carolina estate planning attorney with the legal acumen and long-term perspectives to arrange your affairs. We take the time to listen to your goals and thoroughly prepare for what ever life may bring.

Stroud & Panetti, P.C., based in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, also  serves clients in Danbury, Greensboro, High Point, Lexington, Mocksville and other communities of the I-40 corridor, as well as rural areas of Forsyth, Davidson, Davie, Stokes and Guilford counties.

Stroud & Panetti, P.C.
102 West Third Street, Suite 650
Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27101
Telephone: 336-724-2600
Fax: 336-724-6950

Disclaimer: These documents are intended as informational reminders and do not constitute legal advice. If you have any questions or would like to discuss a particular situation, please contact Stroud and Panetti, P.C. The purpose of these articles is to provide general information about significant legal developments and should not be construed as legal advice on any specific facts and circumstances.

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