Whether you own a historic Ghent home, a business, or savings you want to protect for your family, an estate plan puts you in control of what happens to your assets and who makes decisions for you if you cannot make them yourself. Inman & Strickler, P.L.C. has helped Hampton Roads residents, including many families in the Ghent area of Norfolk, VA, plan for their futures for decades. We build plans as simple or as detailed as your situation calls for, and we take the time to explain your options along the way.
A will lets you decide who receives your property and, if you have young children, who will raise them if something happens to you. A trust can offer more control and, depending on how it is structured, may help your family avoid delays and costs during probate. We look at your full financial picture, including any business you own or property in Ghent, to recommend the combination of wills and trusts that fits your estate planning goals, your family situation, and any tax considerations that apply to your estate.
Planning is not only about what happens after you pass away. A financial power of attorney lets someone you trust manage your bills and accounts if you become unable to do so yourself. A medical power of attorney and advance medical directive let you choose who makes healthcare decisions on your behalf and spell out your wishes for your own care. Putting these documents in place now gives your family clear direction during a stressful time and can help avoid the need for a court to appoint a guardian or conservator later.
When a loved one passes away, their will typically goes through probate in the Circuit Court for the city or county where they lived, which for many Ghent families means Norfolk Circuit Court. We help executors and trustees work through this process, including coordinating with accountants and financial planners so the required tax returns get filed and assets reach the right beneficiaries. Our goal is to keep this process as straightforward as possible during an already difficult time for your family.
Disagreements sometimes arise between beneficiaries, or questions come up about whether a will or trust was properly executed. Our firm’s litigators work alongside our estate planning attorneys to resolve these disputes, whether through negotiation or, when necessary, in court. If you believe an estate or trust is not being handled properly, or you have been named in a dispute over one, talk with us about your options before the situation grows more difficult to resolve.
Many of the historic homes in Ghent have been in the same family for generations, and passing that kind of property down without a plan can create unnecessary tax exposure or family conflict. The same is true for a business you built from the ground up along Colley Avenue or in the surrounding neighborhood. A well-drafted estate plan can address how a home, a rental property, or a business interest transfers to your heirs, and it can spell out who steps in to run things if you become unable to do so yourself. We work with your accountant or financial planner so every piece of your plan lines up.
Call us at 757-486-7055 or contact us to schedule a consultation with a Ghent, Norfolk estate planning attorney.
