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Legal Practice Areas

Estate Planning
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Learn more about our custom estate planning process here in this interactive video guide outlining the entire process from start to finish. 

 

  • Wills

  • Revocable Living Trusts

  • Powers of Attorney for Healthcare

  • Powers of Attorney for Finances and Property

  • Living Wills

  • Marital Agreements

  • Probate Avoidance Planning

 

Estate planning is important whether young or old. No matter what stage of life you are in, you need a plan for how your assets should be distributed upon your death. In addition, a good estate plan includes planning to designate someone to make health care decisions for you in case you are incapacitated for a period of time and possible someone to manage your affairs while you recover. I can help you plan for all these things through the use of Wills, Trusts, Powers of Attorney for Healthcare and Powers of Attorney for Finances. 

 

 

I offer several flat fee estate planning packages for your planning and convenience. This allows you to know what something will cost before the legal work is begun. Depending on whether you are single, or married, and whether you have minor children in the home, you can select the package that is right for you. Please contact me and I can give you a flat fee quote for an estate planning package that best meets your needs. For more complex matters, I can also work with you to give you an estimate on a custom-designed package for your unique situation. Please contact me to receive a fee estimate for your particular situation.

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At my office, we favor non probate private administration of estates, in order to avoid probate court fees, expenses and delay whenever possible when it makes sense for your assets and your goals. Learn more about the Top 3 Reasons to Avoid Probate in this article. 

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Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements

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​As part of your estate plan, I can help you prepare a Marital Agreement (commonly known as a "prenuptial agreement" or "prenup") designating which assets you wish to share with your new spouse, and which assets you wish to keep separate. If you wish to execute a Marital Agreement after marriage, this can also be done. This type of agreement is known as a "Postnuptial Agreement."  Many times, an individual with adult children who is getting married for the first or second time, wishes to set out at the beginning of the marriage who will receive what at their death. This can be especially important with blended families where each spouse may have children. Contact me and we can discuss your situation and your options regarding this type of estate planning. 

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Business Law

 

Are you an entrepreneur or small businessperson looking for guidance on the legal structure for your new business? I can help. Contact me and we can discuss the best corporate structure for your business. Whether you form a Corporation, a Limited Liability Company (LLC), a Partnership or a Sole Proprietorship, I can help your business get started on the right foot. I can help you form your business and file the appropriate paperwork with the state where you are located. 

 

Perhaps you need a contract reviewed or just want some legal advice on a lease or other type of agreement you are considering for your business. I understand that as an entrepreneur or savvy small business owner, you have to watch expenses and do not have an unlimited legal budget. However,  as a smart business person you also understand that in certain situations you could benefit from having a lawyer look something over for you. That is why I offer flat fee pricing for basic contract review and advice. I offer this service so that you can feel confident contacting me, without worrying that the cost will exceed your budget. If your matter is more complex, contact me and I can quote you a flat fee or fee range for your matter before we proceed. This way you can budget for your legal costs in a more predictable way. 

 

My goal, is to become your trusted partner, to enable you to grow and expand your business in a profitable way. By helping to safeguard your business through proper legal structures and advice, together we can ensure the long term viability and success of your enterprise. 

 

 

 

Real Estate

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I can help you review a residential or commercial lease, for a property you wish to lease. Or perhaps you are ready to buy or sell a home and I can help you prepare or review an offer to purchase. Maybe you want to sell a piece of property or gift a piece of property you already own. I can help you prepare and record a deed, along with the related transfer return to transfer the title to this property. In addition to the examples provided above, there are a variety of other services I offer in this area, so if you are dealing with a real estate issue please contact me and we can discuss your issue and I can see how I may be able to help you.

 

Nursing Home Asset Protection

A custom-designed Burton Medicaid Asset Protection Trust, can help protect certain assets from long term care, nursing home costs, and creditors. This type of planning generally needs to be done 5 years in advance of the date when you might need nursing home care. It can be very smart to plan ahead to protect valued family assets, such as a family farm or home, by placing the assets inside of a specially designed irrevocable trust. These type of trusts are not appropriate for every situation, and should only be considered after proper discussion and planning with a qualified attorney. Contact my office today to set up a long term care, medicaid, and asset protection planning consultation.

Asset Protection and Legacy Planning

A custom-designed Burton Asset Protection Trust can provide asset protection and creditor protection for your children, grandchildren and their children. Through the use of trust structures, you can set up a plan that protects your legacy from creditors, ex-spouses, and others, and help ensure the money is used as you intended for your heirs' health, education, maintenance and welfare. Using dynasty trusts and other custom tools, we can set up safeguards to help protect your hard-earned legacy for the next generation and beyond. Contact my office to set up your legacy planning appointment.

Medicaid Application & Qualification

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Do you need help completing the Medicaid application and qualifying for Medicaid as quickly as possible? Tired of filling out the application, only to have it rejected? Let my office help. I hear many stories of clients who are frustrated by the guidance given to them from nursing home social workers, nursing home administrations, caseworkers and others. Many times these folks are well-meaning, but since they are not trained in the law, they give incorrect or incomplete information. With the daily cost of nursing home care often exceeding $250-$300 a day, any delay can add up quickly. Let our office help you plan your Medicaid application strategy so that you can achieve approval and qualification as quickly as possible. Contact my office for a Medicaid Qualification Strategy Session.

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