Estate planning is about more than just deciding who gets what after someone passes away. It's also about preparing for life's uncertainties and making decisions now that'll carry legal authority later. Among the most important legal documents we prepare for at Porter Law Firm in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, are powers of attorney.

Families want to provide support while preserving eligibility for critical public benefits. In South Carolina, one of the most effective legal tools for achieving that balance is the special needs trust.

Estate planning can feel like a daunting task, especially when faced with what feels like legal options and terminologies. However, creating a revocable trust is one of the most effective ways to protect your assets and streamline the process for your loved ones after your passing.

Planning for the future of a loved one with special needs takes careful thought and preparation. Many families worry about how their loved ones will be cared for after they're gone, especially when it comes to financial stability.

Drafting a will or trust is often viewed as a straightforward task, yet poor estate planning can cause undue grief and stress for your heirs. In many scenarios, insufficient documents create courtroom battles, confusion over assets, or unexpected tax burdens that drain resources.  You might inadvertently omit key accounts, place contradictory instructions in multiple documents, or rely on outdated assumptions about your children’s current needs. When you pass away, your family and beneficiaries could be left to grapple with scattered files or contradictory directives.

A general power of attorney (POA) is a legal document that allows you to give someone the authority to act on your behalf in a variety of situations. It can be an important part of your estate planning, and it’s something every adult should consider.

When planning for your future healthcare needs, two important documents to consider are the healthcare power of attorney (HCPA) and the living will. These documents help make sure your medical preferences are followed in case you're unable to communicate or make decisions for yourself.

A revocable trust is a valuable estate planning tool that can provide numerous benefits, such as avoiding probate, offering privacy, and allowing for more control over the distribution of assets. However, simply creating the trust isn’t enough to make it effective. To fully utilize its benefits, you must fund it by transferring ownership of your assets into the trust.

Wills serve as legally binding documents that outline how a person’s assets should be distributed after their passing. While most are executed smoothly, disputes can arise when heirs or beneficiaries believe something is amiss.

Estate planning isn’t a one-time task—it should evolve alongside major life events to protect your assets and make sure that your wishes are honored. At Porter Law Firm located in Mount Pleasant, Charleston, Summerville, and Hilton Head, South Carolina, we’ve seen how outdated documents can create complications, leading to disputes and unintended distributions.