Estate Planning

Indiana Trust & Estate Attorneys Helping You Plan

Preserving Your Family’s Wealth for Future Generations

Estate planning and probate attorneys at Jewell, Crump, Angermeier & Prall can help with all aspects of estate and trust issues, including:
  • Appointing a trustworthy personal representative    
  • Minimizing estate and income taxes 
  • Planning the distribution of estate assets
  • Filing of Guardianships of the person and property
  • Appointing Health Care Representatives
  • Filing to Probate Wills
  • Curing defective “Do It Yourself” documents
  • Preparing Powers of Attorney
  • Drafting Prenuptial Agreements
  • Preparing Transfer on Death documents
  • Drafting Trusts
  • Preparing Wills
  • Opening Estates
  • Transferring of Businesses and Farms
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Securing your legacy
You work hard to support your family; so knowing that you have an efficient plan for your family’s long-term well-being and financial security can bring you comfort. We thoroughly analyze your estate and help you develop the most efficient means of transferring your assets; minimizing taxes; when necessary, establishing guardianships or trusts to protect minors and handicapped persons; and supporting charitable causes. 
Drafting your Will, Power of Attorney, and Appointment of Health Care Representative
A Will is beneficial at every stage of your life. Preparing a Will provides you the opportunity to distribute the property you own at your death, to appoint a trusted person to handle your last wishes, to establish care for your minor or handicapped children and other loved ones, and otherwise to express your wishes after your death. A Will is one way to leave property to a person or entity other than a “legal heir,” such as a domestic partner, a friend, or a charity. If you die without a Will, the laws of the State of Indiana determine how your property shall be distributed. So, without a Will who cares for your dependents and even what happens to your pets? Those laws may not accurately reflect your desires. 

We draft and help you execute valid Wills that ensure your intentions are honored, and provide for efficient estate administration.
 
A Power of Attorney provides for a trusted and capable person or persons who will handle your financial and medical affairs upon your absence or incapacity. An Appointment of Health Care Representative provides for a trusted person or persons to communicate with physicians or other medical care persons if you are unable to express your wishes to them for your care. A potential guardian can also be designated in the event you become incapacitated. This assures that when you are most vulnerable, your wishes will be honored.
Changing your Will
As your life changes, so might your estate plan change. You may need to update your Will periodically throughout your life. The attorneys at Jewell, Crump, Angermeier & Prall can help plan and draft changes to your Will that address changes in your financial situation, marital status, number of children, philanthropic interests, and other general lifestyle decisions.
Appointment of guardians 
If you have minor children, you may appoint guardians in your Will to make decisions about their future care. This is especially crucial if you are a single parent or if both parents die in a common accident. If you do not name a guardian, the court appoints a guardian for your children, who may make decisions contrary to your desires. You can also make arrangements for your pets’ care in your will, including naming a guardian to take responsibility for your pets and setting up a trust for their care.
Probate 
Attorneys at Jewell, Crump, Angermeier & Prall apply their extensive experience and knowledge about Indiana probate law to guide their clients through the complex process of probating a Will and administering an estate. The law firm assists personal representatives in all steps of the probate process, including:
  • Securing all of the assets of the deceased
  • Creating a plan of action to administer the estate fairly and expeditiously
  • Proving and filing a Will with the probate court
  • Locating and notifying beneficiaries and creditors
  • Applying for a Federal ID Number, as needed
  • Closing the decedent’s accounts and opening the estate accounts
  • Appraising the estate assets
  • Managing and liquidating the estate assets, as appropriate
  • Filing income and estate tax returns, as needed
  • Paying taxes and other debts, as appropriate 
  • Hiring professionals and experts when necessary
  • Handling estate litigation, as needed
  • Transferring assets from the estate to the proper beneficiaries
  • Preparing and serving an accounting of the administration of the estate, and
  • Closing the estate. 
Trusts 
Some persons create trusts. Generally trusts provide for professional management of assets and for handling of assets for minors or handicapped persons. Sometimes trusts are created to save estate taxes. At the death of the settlor (maker of the trust) a trust usually needs to be funded and administered. Income and estate tax returns may be necessary to be prepared and filed. The trust may be responsible for the debts of the decedent. Distributions may need to be made. Trust management may need to be set up. Accountings may need to be prepared and distributed to those persons as the trust directs. The attorneys at Jewell, Crump, Angermeier & Prall will help you to draft and to administer trusts. 
Contact an estate planning law firm you can trust--Jewell, Crump, Angermeier & Prall.
Call Jewell, Crump, Angermeier & Prall at 812-376-9752 or contact us online to schedule your initial consultation.
Jewell, Crump, Angermeier & Prall serves clients in Columbus and throughout Bartholomew, Jackson, Jennings, Decatur, Johnson and Brown Counties, in Indiana.​
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