Successions and Wills

Stegeman Law Firm advises and represents clients in regard to the following:

  • Simple wills
  • Living wills
  • Healthcare directives
  • Business continuity / business succession plans
  • Contested wills
  • Probate administration

End of life decisions and the division of an estate's assets can be complicated without a will. At Stegeman & Associates, we work diligently evaluating our clients financial situation when creating a will custom-fitted to their unique needs. Russell Stegeman has years of experience in assisting individuals interested in securing their family's financial future. We explain how a will can help your estate avoid certain kinds of taxes, complications during probate, and confusion should you be incapacitated and in need of medical care. If you own a business, Mr. Stegeman can develop a business succession plan as part of your will to ensure its continued, smooth operation.

 

Additionally, if you have minor or adult children and a living spouse, forced heirship may be an issue. We explain how you can have everything divided equally by default and what steps can be taken to take care of children from a previous marriage.

Healthcare Issues - Why a Will is Important

Most people are familiar with the case of Terri Schiavo, the woman who was in a persistent vegetative state for 15 years before having her feeding tube removed. While most people won't be confronted with the same situation, dementia, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's disease, and other conditions may leave one incapable of making important end of life decisions. A living will or healthcare directive allows you to specify when to end life support technology and who should be consulted to make medical decisions for you when you are incapacitated. Additionally, you can indicate whether you want to participate in organ donor programs or scientific research.

We pull from an extensive knowledge base and years of experience to create tailored solutions for wills, succession and asset protection. We help our clients navigate and understand the available asset protection options, including living wills and power of attorney.

“Succession” is the transmission of the deceased’s estate or rights to his successors. The successors have the right to take possession of the deceased’s estate after complying with applicable laws. A person’s estate includes the property, rights and obligations that person had at death, including any rights and obligations that may have accrued since death.


A succession is opened to obtain possession of property, such as home and real estate, vehicles, access to bank accounts, pensions or certain insurance proceeds. A succession must be properly executed to grant one’s family rights to that person’s property after their death. A succession should usually be opened as soon as possible after the decedent’s death, as delays may cause problems such as lost documents or wills, or the family could face tax sales of homes due to unpaid taxes. Waiting too long may also make a succession more complicated and expensive. It’s never too soon to plan.

For a FREE, no obligation consultation, contact our office at 877-925-LAWS.