[GRAPHIC: Robbins, Kelly, Patterson & Tucker, A Legal Professional Association, rkpt.com, Ohio, Northern Kentucky, Southern Indiana, 513-721-3330]
[GRAPHIC: William D. Sherman, Attorney at Law]
William Sherman: Basic definition of estate planning is making sure that, upon your death, you're able to give your assets to who you want, when you want, with paying the least amount of estate tax. Estate planning also involves making sure certain lifetime issues are taken care of for all of our clients, which would include appropriate health care documents for the state that you live in, along with financial powers of attorney.
On a very personal way, I learned the importance for the need for everyone to have an estate plan. No family thinks it's ever going to happen to them that they lose someone suddenly, but I lost my brother and best friend five years ago as he went into cardiac arrest on a bike ride. No one ever could have thought this could have happened to my brother. He was an attorney. He died without a will.
And what it caused our family was to go through a great deal of emotional toll, more importantly than the additional time and expense that it took us to administer his estate. Again, it was the emotional toll that came to our family, and it taught me very clearly everyone needs to plan. There's the old saying "plan for the worst, but expect the best," and so it's very important for everyone to make sure they address their estate planning needs.
[GRAPHIC: Robbins, Kelly, Patterson & Tucker, A Legal Professional Association, rkpt.com, Ohio, Northern Kentucky, Southern Indiana, 513-721-3330]
[End of Audio]
