Very few people in Idaho have any type of estate plan in place. Unfortunately, if they become incapacitated or die, their loved ones will be left with many questions and uncertainties. Call Foley Freeman today to discuss how an estate plan can help you. Our experienced Boise estate planning attorneys work closely with clients to understand their desires and fears. Leveraging decades of experience, we work with tax professionals and other experts to help create an estate plan that fits your needs and budget.

An Estate Plan is More than a Will

Certainly, a will is a sound building block for most estate plans. In a will, you leave assets to specific individuals, including children or your spouse. You might even leave your entire estate to one person or divide it between several.

An estate plan might also include:

  • Living trust—You create this while alive and serve as trustee and beneficiary. It is easy to create and even undo if you choose.
  • Special needs trust—This trust can provide for someone who receives means-tested government benefits. If you left them assets directly in a will, they could become ineligible for benefits.

There are dozens of valid trusts in Idaho, each designed to accomplish a goal. We can find the right trust for your needs.

An estate plan can also help you anticipate challenges coming down the road. Our clients prepare for old age and the time when they can no longer make decisions for themselves. Some helpful estate planning documents include:

  • Living wills
  • Health care directives
  • Powers of attorney

With these documents, you can decide what end-of-life care you want, such as a feeding tube. You can also name people to serve as your agents and handle financial transactions (like paying bills) or decide which medical care you need. Contact our Boise estate planning attorneys for more information about how to create one of these documents.

Business Succession Planning

Anyone who owns or co-owns a business needs to plan now for who will take over the reins in the future. Without proper business succession planning, your company could end up in the wrong hands and go belly up. Our firm can walk you through all the different phases of business succession planning, including identifying future leaders and creating proper legal documents.

Problems if You Die Without an Estate Plan

Few people want to think about growing older. But if you die without an estate plan, then your loved ones could encounter:

  • Prolonged probate and a greater risk of a fight over the estate;
  • Difficulty gaining access to assets as the estate winds its way through the courts;
  • Disagreements about who should serve as the estate’s personal representative, and a risk the court appoints someone inappropriate for the role;
  • Increased risk of depleting the value of the estate with unnecessary litigation.

Growing older without a living will or powers of attorney can also create headaches. Children might fight between themselves to get appointed guardian, and the guardian could end up draining the estate before you die.

Even worse, some people scrape a template off the internet and use it as a guide to create a will, trust, or power of attorney. There’s a real risk you end up with a totally ineffective document, inviting a legal challenge when you can no longer express your wishes. Instead, hire an experienced Boise estate planning attorney who can guide you through the process.

Get to Know Foley Freeman

Our origins are in Meridian, where our founders hung out a shingle at a tiny house in 1978. Since then, our firm has not only grown, but we’ve branched out to serve more of the communities in the Treasure Valley with their legal needs. If you hire Foley Freeman, you are getting some of the most experienced and respected lawyers in Boise. Our firm has received numerous honors, and our partners are active in the Idaho bar.

Now that you know a little about us, reach out so we can learn about you and your family.

Speak with a Boise Estate Planning Attorney

At Foley Freeman, we believe in empowering clients to make the right estate planning choices by providing them with accurate legal information. We are happy to create the final pieces of an estate plan or build one from the ground up. Our firm’s services are affordable, and we believe in transparent pricing. Now is the time to take control of the future and create a customized estate plan.