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Kuebler & Associates, PLLC
423-822-5915

Practical Solutions Built On Decades Of Real-World Industry Experience

Compassionate Estate Planning Guidance From Reliable Chattanooga Attorneys

There is no getting around it: every person must face death and taxes. You should be the one to decide what happens to your assets once you pass away – not the courts or the government. Estate planning allows you to take control of your future and protect what is most important to you.

When planning your future, you deserve straightforward and compassionate guidance from estate planning lawyers who care about your interests. At Kuebler & Associates, PLLC, in Chattanooga, our attorneys will work closely with you to understand your needs and implement tools designed to achieve your goals.

Comprehensive Tennessee Estate Planning Services

Attorney Kuebler knows the most common planning mistakes and how to avoid them. He also works to implement streamlined planning strategies to avoid probate issues as much as possible. He and our estate planning attorneys can assist you with a wide range of issues, including:

  • Wills: In your last will and testament, you can name beneficiaries, a guardian for your minor children, and a personal representative to manage your estate. A will must be properly witnessed and signed to be enforceable in Tennessee. Your will comes with certain limitations, including no control over when your property is ultimately distributed.
  • Trusts: When you create a trust, you appoint a trustee to oversee assets placed in the trust. Trusts are private and more customizable, and a trust’s assets are in most cases not subject to probate. Living trusts are modifiable and can function similarly to wills. Irrevocable trusts cannot be modified but can be used to achieve asset protection, avoid federal estate taxes, and obtain other significant benefits.
  • Advance directives: Your advance directives should contain instructions for the types of medical care you wish to receive or not receive in situations where you are incapacitated.
  • Powers of attorney: When you appoint a power of attorney, you choose a trusted person who will act on your behalf. A medical power of attorney advocates for you in health care settings using your advance directives, while a financial power of attorney handles other types of affairs.
  • Estate administration and probate: Probate is the court process through which an estate is settled and can easily overwhelm the deceased’s surviving loved ones. Probate can quickly become an expensive and time-consuming process. One of our attorneys can serve as your personal representative; we can also assist appointed personal representatives navigating the probate process.

Estate planning often involves multiple elements. It can be overwhelming to determine which documents you need. When you work with us, our Chattanooga estate planning lawyers will take the time to get to know you, your goals and your concerns before recommending the best options for you. If a will contest or another dispute arises, we can use strategic mediation or civil litigation to solve things quickly.

Why Do You Need An Estate Plan?

Every adult should have an estate plan, no matter their age, health or financial circumstances. If you are incapacitated in an accident and are not able to communicate, you will have no say in your medical treatment without an estate plan in place. Your loved ones may have difficulty paying your bills or managing your affairs.

Should you pass away without an estate plan, the court will distribute your assets under Tennessee’s intestacy laws. This means your property will be divided among your most immediate surviving relatives. You will also have no opportunity to recommend a guardian for your minor children.

Proactive estate planning allows you to provide instructions and appoint agents to act on your behalf in these scenarios. It is therefore in everyone’s best interest to write and regularly update a will and other estate planning documents.

As a resource for those beginning the estate planning process, the University of Tennessee has created an Estate Planning Tools document to guide your plan. You should always consult an estate planning lawyer to ensure compliance with the law.

Get Started: Work With Our Tennessee Estate Planning Lawyers

It is never too early or too late to make plans to protect your family. Kuebler & Associates, PLLC, can help you implement estate planning tools that address every aspect of your estate and future. To schedule a consultation at the firm’s Chattanooga office, call 423-822-5915 or fill out our online contact form.