Protect Your Financial Assets and Your Family with Timely Estate Planning

Southwest Alabama Estate Planning and Probate Attorney

Many people think of estate planning as simply writing a will and naming a guardian for their children, but a thorough estate plan can do so much more. It can:

• Protect your assets today by sheltering them from taxation and protect them after death by escaping the expense of probate with a trust.
• Determine your health care by providing financial support for the special needs that occur in old age and by communicating your wishes to your family for end of life and emergency medical care with an advance health care directive
• Ensure your bills are paid and financial decisions can be made, even if you are incapacitated, with a financial power of attorney.
•  Protect your children, through naming a guardian and establishing a trust to pay for their care and education.
• Carry on your charitable legacy with a charitable trust or a financial gift.
• Communicate your wishes for the distribution of your estate and for your funeral.

At The Law Offices of Mark D. Ryan, P.C., our estate planning attorney helps families develop effective estate plans that minimize both cost and difficulty when a family member passes away. Every plan we develop is customized specifically for the client so it meets the individual and the family's unique needs and goals.

Contact our office to schedule a consultation at our Bay Minette or Orange Beach law office. We can also travel to your home, nursing home, or hospital for clients who cannot travel.

We can assist you and your family with any of the following estate planning tools:

• Wills and pour-over wills
• Trusts, including special needs trusts, educational trusts, marital trusts, life insurance trusts, and charitable trusts
• Naming of guardians and executors for children and adults who lack competency
• Advanced healthcare directive (also called a living will)

Alabama requires a very specific format for a legally valid advanced healthcare directive. We will give you information to consider about the health care you would want to receive if you were seriously injured or facing the end of life, and will help you develop a health care directive that meets Alabama requirements.

Alabama Probate Administration

Our probate lawyer assists personal representatives (executors or administrators) who are assigned the task of probating a will or handling an estate for which there was no will (intestate). We can advise you on Alabama probate requirements and the probate calendar that must be strictly followed.

If There Was No Will

One of the most difficult parts of probating an estate when there was no will is finding an insurance company that will bond the administrator. Because of past liability problems, some insurance companies will not provide a bond and they have very specific requirements. Most people need a lawyer to help them obtain bonding.

Contact the Law Offices of Mark D. Ryan, P.C. for assistance with your probate or estate planning need, or call our office toll-free at 877.797.2002.

The Law Offices of Mark D. Ryan, P.C. in Bay Minette, Alabama represents individuals, businesses and local government entities in Baldwin County and Southwest Alabama, including Orange Beach, Gulf Shores, Fairhope, Daphne, Foley, and Spanish Fort.

Law Offices of Mark D. Ryan, P.C.
204 West Second Street
Post Office Box 1000
Bay Minette AL 36507
Phone (251) 580-0500
Toll Free (877) 797-2002
Fax (251) 580-0655
Email mdr@mryanlaw.com