Estate Planning Attorney in Mobile, Alabama

Estate planning is a very personal—yet often overlooked—matter. Planning for your future affects not only you but also your loved ones and future generations. At The Seawell Firm, LLC, we understand what’s at stake when it comes to creating the right plan.  

That is why our estate planning attorney in Mobile, Alabama, helps clients preserve and pass on wealth by creating plans tailored to their specific needs and circumstances. Our attorney—Henry R. Seawell, IV—has extensive experience in both federal and state courts. He has earned a reputation for his commitment to serving the legal needs of the community in Mobile and throughout Mobile County as well as Fairhope, Daphne, and Baldwin County.  

Who Needs Estate Planning?

A will, trust, and other estate planning documents are “essentials” for everyone for cares about their legacy. No matter how old you are, how wealthy you are, or whether you have any medical conditions (or not), having a solid estate plan in place can help you provide for your family’s future.  

The goal of estate planning is to allow you to control what happens to you, your loved ones, and your wealth by detailing your wishes and writing instructions. Estate planning is not just about writing the last will and testament. A comprehensive estate plan can accomplish much more than what a simple will can do. For this reason, everyone who wants to have control over the following should consider estate planning: 

• Choosing the person who would make decisions on your behalf when you lose your capacity to do so on your own

• Choosing the person who will care for your children if you become incapacitated or die

• Specifying the medical treatments and procedures you wish and do not wish to receive

• Instructing who and when should get your assets after you are gone

These are just some of the things estate planning can help you accomplish. Everyone’s situation is unique, which is why you might need to speak with an estate planning attorney in Mobile, Alabama, to discuss your best plan for the future.  

The Benefits of Having an Estate Plan

The benefits of estate planning are endless. Since each person’s situation is different, everyone can customize an estate plan to meet their specific goals, needs, and circumstances. Many people have concerns over asset preservation, incapacity planning, reducing taxes, avoiding probate, and other matters. With the help of legal counsel, you can create a plan that makes the most sense for your unique situation.  

Below are some of the benefits of having an estate plan in place:  

1. Provide for your family’s future. Estate planning helps you ensure that your family will be taken care of in the event of your incapacity or demise. Among other things, an estate plan allows you to specify your beneficiary designations (also known as determining who will inherit what), name guardians for your minor children, and establish trusts for family members.   

2. Ensure that your assets are distributed according to your wishes. For many, one of the primary reasons for creating an estate plan is to establish who should inherit what when they are gone.  

3. Minimize your estate’s expenses in probate. Probate is known to be costly. However, having a solid estate plan in place could help you reduce some of the costs associated with probate and help streamline the entire process.  

4. Prevent family conflict. When someone dies, their surviving family members mourn and grieve their loss. However, what death also can do is trigger family conflict, especially if the deceased person did not create an estate plan to outline their wishes.  

5. Plan for incapacity. Incapacity planning is a major part of estate planning. In most cases, people cannot predict with certainty when they might become physically or mentally incapacitated. An estate plan allows you to plan for incapacity to ensure that your assets and healthcare are properly managed. 

6. Reduce taxes. For many, one of the main benefits of creating an estate plan is the ability to minimize taxes, namely the estate tax. What it means is that your loved ones will be able to keep more of your money and assets to themselves.   

7. Choose the executor of the estate. When you pass away, your estate will need to be settled by a person called the “executor” or the personal representative. This person has a wide range of responsibilities, including but not limited to making sure that the estate’s assets are distributed according to your wishes.  

Estate planning can be rewarding and beneficial, but it does not make it any less complicated. Many people do not have sufficient legal knowledge to create an estate plan on their own, which is why they may need the assistance of an attorney to help them navigate the process.  

How Your Attorney Can Help

Estate planning does not have to be daunting or overwhelming when you work with an experienced attorney. When people attempt to create an estate plan without legal counsel, they often end up overlooking legal requirements, which may invalidate their estate planning documents. With an attorney on your side, you can rest assured that everything in your estate plan is written in accordance with the current law.  

At The Seawell Firm, LLC, our estate planning attorney works with clients to help them create comprehensive, effective, and customized estate plans that help achieve their objectives and stand the test of time. We can help you identify the most appropriate documents for your plan based on your personal and financial circumstances.