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Curran Estate & Elder Law, PLLC
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Reading Estate Planning Lawyers

How old should you be when you start estate planning? How much wealth do you need before drafting a will? Do I really need a lawyer to help with all this? These are questions we hear over and over again from our clients, and the truth is, there’s no one single answer to them. Estate planning is as unique as each individual we work with, and it’s never too early—or too late—to get started. 

If you’re in the Reading, Pennsylvania, area or anywhere throughout Berks County and the neighboring counties of Schuylkill, Montgomery, Lancaster, Chester, and Lebanon, give us a call today to talk about your options. At Curran Estate & Elder Law, PLLC, we’re committed to creating meaningful relationships with our clients and answering all your questions so you can make informed choices about your future.

Why Estate Planning Is Important

Many people are under the false impression that you have to be old or considerably wealthy to have an estate plan, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. Estate planning is for anyone who cares about their loved ones and wants to put structures in place to ensure they’re looked after. 

Estate planning is a broad term used to describe any legal document used to make an advanced plan about what should happen to you and your assets should you die or become incapacitated. An estate plan lets you arrange everything while you’re still of sound mind and body so that when the time comes, your loved ones are not tasked with the burden of untangling your affairs. This is important regardless of your level of health or age since none of us know when our time will come. Additionally, if you put a plan in place when you’re younger, it will be easier and cheaper to maintain it and revise it as you age. 

The number one benefit of establishing an estate plan early is the peace of mind it will give you and your family, but there are a number of legal considerations as well. When a person dies without a will in place (known as dying intestate), all their assets must go through the courts in a process known as probate. This means the court, rather than you, will now be making the decisions about what should happen with your assets. Even if you have a simple will, it will still have to go through probate, but it will be much faster since you’ll have named an executor who’s in charge of administering your will. If you want to avoid the lengthy and costly process of probate, you should look into establishing a trust. With a living trust, you’ll have already moved assets out of your name and into the name of a trustee, so these items can then go directly to your beneficiaries with no court involvement.

Documents That May Be Included in an Estate Plan 

The backbone of any estate plan is a will, and this is where most people start. A will can list all your assets, assign beneficiaries, assign an executor, and name a legal guardian for any minor children. On top of this, many people choose to establish a trust as well, and the most common type is a living trust. 

It’s called a living trust because you open it while you’re still living, and you retain control over it for as long as you’re capable of doing so. This means you can move assets in and out of the trust and reassign or remove beneficiaries as you see fit. Your assets will legally be in the name of your named trustee, but you’ll still be in charge. When you dopass, your heirs won’t have to work with the courts and will instead have their assets transferred directly to them. 

In addition to asset protection planning, an estate plan can also contain powers of attorney and an advance healthcare directive. The person you name to have powers of attorney will be able to represent you and make decisions on your behalf for any business, financial, and legal matters. Your advance healthcare directive can lay out your wishes for end-of-life care and medical procedures should you become incapable of communication. 

How Your Attorney Can Help

When you work with an estate planning attorney, you’ll have a partner throughout this process, not only during your own life but also after you pass. This can be especially useful if there are disagreements amongst relatives after you pass and they turn to the court for help. Judges will often consult with the attorney that drafted the estate plan for help during this time for trust and probate administration. 

An experienced attorney will also take the time to truly get to know you in order to better understand your goals. They can then draft an estate plan that meets your needs and help you with complicated decisions like choosing a power of attorney or executor. Lastly, they’ll ensure your plan is legally enforceable so you can rest easy knowing your loved ones are taken care of and your wishes will be followed.

estate planning

Estate Planning Attorney Serving Reading, Pennsylvania

Everyone deserves to have an estate plan in place that accurately reflects their goals for the future, and at Curran Estate & Elder Law, PLLC, we can help. If you’re in the Reading, Pennsylvania, region and would like to speak with a skilled estate planning attorney, reach out to us today to schedule a consultation.

A Team That Truly Cares

Our attorneys take pride in helping you make the right decisions for your family and your future.

Schedule time to Talk with our Team Today

Client Success Stories

The staff is always extremely pleasant and helpful. Rose Kennedy does a fabulous job of taking the time to explain everything, more than once if need be, and willing to answer any questions.
Lisa Care
Lisa Care
September 1, 2023.
They were very kind and helpful to my brother and me. They took the time to review our situation and offered us options. Highly recommend their services!!! Thanks. 😎
Kurt Manderbach
Kurt Manderbach
September 1, 2023.
This lawfirm is excellent. They are so knowledgeable and experienced in estate planning. Sarah at the front desk is responsive, welcoming and helpful. Rose Kennedy is a top notch attorney with a strong attention to detail, very knowledgeable in her field, great at presenting information in an easy to understand manner and very compassionate. We highly recommend Curran.
Leo and Lily
Leo and Lily
August 22, 2023.
When my father passed away in March 2022, I had never lost an immediate family member, and I was unprepared for the deluge of paperwork that followed. I also was not prepared for the way that grief would make simple things extra difficult. Luckily, my dad had set up a trust with Sean Curran’s guidance in 2016. It not only protected his assets, but it allowed us to work with Rose Kennedy and Angela Young for the estate administration. I truly do not know what we would have done without the kindness and guidance of Rose and Angela. I will never forget talking with Rose from the bathroom of my dad’s hospice room. It was far past office hours, but she was calmly determined to help me understand what steps I needed to take next. She even texted me after the call with detailed instructions in case I was unable to remember because of my emotional state. My gratitude for her compassion and patience continued to grow throughout the following year as she and Angela continuously went above and beyond to help us with every challenge that arose as we sold our dad’s house, filed inheritance taxes, and encountered numerous other tasks that I never could have figured out without their step-by-step guidance. I will always have a special place in my heart for the calmness that Rose and Angela brought me throughout the overwhelming and emotional process of losing a parent. Every person I’ve encountered at Curran Estate and Elder Law has been professional, helpful, and kind. I can’t imagine going through this process without their support and wisdom. Thank you!
Cindi Delinsky
Cindi Delinsky
July 29, 2023.
Curran Estate & Elder Law handled my fathers estate for me. They were incredibly helpful and answered all of my questions. I did very little, everything was completed by them. I would strongly suggest if your looking for an Attorney to handle your parents affairs, give Curran Estate & Elder Law a call!
KIM STRICKER
KIM STRICKER
July 26, 2023.
I would highly recommend Curran Estate Elder Care. They guided and helped with our estate planning, protection of assets, writing of our wills, power of attorney documentation and also care management for my spouse. They offer a great support system. Great people to work with.
Lil Myers
Lil Myers
July 20, 2023.
They are very efficient at helping their clients get the best and affordable help for families that need help. I would recommend them all around, especially for the elderly that cannot help themselves. they help me get poa of my mom when no one else would help. Hospital would say that she is not capable of having a POA at the time on hospice. Well, they wrong because my mother understood and signed forms thank you so very much Joyce and Tiffani
Tiffani Grendell
Tiffani Grendell
July 18, 2023.
Quite simply the best Elder Law in Berks. Professional, ethical and kind from start to finish. We had gotten our Will's and PoA's done with Curran a couple years ago, then when my father's health took a down turn, they were the obvious choice for managing the transition of his care, and then eventually with handling the administration of his will , probate and the dozens of other details that no one tells you about. I couldn't imagine having to do all of that on my own. Big thanks to the Rose, Susan, Angela and the whole team at Curran.
Adam Wentling
Adam Wentling
July 18, 2023.
As executor of estate, Curran has guided me step-by-step through the process in a professional and efficient manner. Their approach is friendly as they have patiently answered all my questions with clear explanations which make my duties simple and easy to carry out.
David & Alison Zezenski
David & Alison Zezenski
June 16, 2023.
My mother and I met with Rose Kennedy at Curran Estate & Elder Law, PLLC. Rose and her team were wonderful! Sarah greeted us promptly and escorted us to the conference room. She was very gracious. Rose demonstrated compassion, kindness, and understanding. She explained the documents clearly and answered all our questions. I highly recommend Rose and the team who responded quickly. They acted with professionalism and compassion. They have a heart. I had contacted other estate and elder firms in Berks County, and they did not even respond. Call Curran they will respond and help you.
Diana Vavreck
Diana Vavreck
May 25, 2023.
Curran Estate & Elder Law, PLLC

1212 Liggett Ave.
Reading, PA 19611

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