_DaDallas Law Firm Helps You Plan and Protect Your Estate
_Preserving your family’s wealth for future generations
Whether you are planning for your future medical care, planning the disposition of your assets upon death or establishing support for loved ones, N. Dean Hawkins & Associates, Inc. can help you with all estate and trust issues, including:
_The firm’s founder, N. Dean Hawkins, who is the author of Texas Trusts & Clauses published by James Publishing in 2009, is a published author in the field of trusts and estate planning.
Securing your legacy You work hard for your family, so knowing that you have planned for their long-term well-being and financial security can bring you comfort. We thoroughly analyze your estate and determine the best means of transferring your assets, minimizing taxes, naming guardians for your children, supporting personal philanthropic causes and protecting your loved ones. Your last will and testament Your will provides you the opportunity to specify how your property will be distributed, who will handle your affairs and your assets until the assets in your estate have been distributed, and who will care for your children. If you die without a will or do not properly address these issues in a will, the court, based upon Texas law, will rule on these issues, and these rulings by the court may not be consistent with your wishes. NDHA can draft valid wills that ensure your intentions are honored. Changing your will As circumstances change throughout your life, there is usually a need to change your estate plan and update your will. NDHA drafts valid codicils that address changes in your financial position, marital status, philanthropic interests, and general lifestyle and changes in the number, ages and marital status of your children. Use of trusts Trusts are an invaluable tool in estate planning. Trusts can be either living trusts (formed during your lifetime) or testamentary trusts (formed under the terms of your will). Living trusts can be either revocable trusts (meaning that it can be revoked by you at any time) or irrevocable trusts (meaning that the trust cannot be revoked by you after it is formed). Some special types of irrevocable trusts include the irrevocable life insurance trust and the charitable remainder trust, which can be either a charitable remainder annuity trust or a charitable remainder unitrust. All of these trusts are valuable tools in the appropriate circumstances, but the income, estate and gift tax consequences must be fully understood before any of these trusts is formed. NDHA can assist and advise you with the formation of any of these trusts. Ancillary documents The other commonly executed documents during the course of estate planning include: (1) a durable power of attorney, (2) a medical power of attorney, and (3) a living will. In a durable power of attorney, authority is granted to a third party to handle the financial affairs of the person granting the durable power of attorney. With a medical power of attorney, authority is granted to a third party to make medical decisions for the person granting the medical power of attorney, but only if the person granting the power is unable to make such decisions. Finally, with a living will, the person executing the living will is expressing his or her desire not to be placed on life support if he or she has been diagnosed as terminally ill. Appointment of guardian If you have minor children, your will allows you 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 incident. If you do not name a guardian, the court will appoint a guardian for your children and can make decisions contrary to intentions. For an estate planning law firm you can trust, contact NDHA For estate planning services in Dallas and throughout Texas, call NDHA at 972-934-2830 or contact us online to schedule an initial consultation. _NDHA is conveniently located in Dallas
and serves clients in the outlying towns of Richardson, Plano and
McKinney, as well as throughout Collin County and Denton County.
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Areas of Practice
Address
_ 12801 N. Central Expressway
Suite 540 Dallas, TX 75243 P: 972-934-2830 F: 972-934-2825_ |
